KARAH RUCKER: DAIRY PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN CALLING ON THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO STOP PLANT-BASED DRINKS FROM USING THE WORD “MILK” IN ITS NAME, SINCE THERE’S NO DAIRY OR MILK IN ITS PRODUCTS.

DRINKS LIKE ALMOND MILK, OAT MILK, SOY MILK ARE POPULAR ALTERNATIVES TO DRINKING DAIRY.

IN NEW FDA GUIDANCE RELEASED THIS WEEK, THE AGENCY HAS DETERMINED THOSE DRINKS ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR NAMES.

THE FDA HAS DETERMINED THAT PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES AREN’T PRETENDING TO BE FROM DAIRY ANIMALS BY USING THE WORD MILK. AND THAT U.S. CONSUMERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CARTON OF ALMOND MILK AND WHOLE MILK.

THE FDA DOES RECOMMEND THAT BEVERAGE MAKERS ADD LABELS TO THEIR PRODUCTS CLEARLY STATING ITS PLANT SOURCE, SUCH AS “CASHEW MILK.” WHICH MANY OF THESE PRODUCTS ALREADY DO.

THE GUIDANCE ALSO CALLS FOR EXTRA NUTRITION LABELS THAT NOTE HOW THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF MILK-ALTERNATIVE DRINKS COMPARES TO DAIRY MILK, SINCE MANY CONSUMERS DRINK MILK FOR IT’S CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, PROTEIN OR VITAMIN D BENEFITS.