FDA Seeks Comments on Labeling of Plant-Based Foods as Dairy Products

The Food and Drug Administration seeks comments by Nov. 27 on the labeling of plant-based products that include the names of dairy foods such as “milk,” “cultured milk,” “yogurt” and “cheese,” it said in a notice. The agency is interested in input regarding the current market for such products, including the extent they are sold and the costs of any labeling changes, as well as on consumer perceptions of plant-based foods that include the names of dairy foods. “We are taking this action to inform our development of an approach to the labeling of plant-based products that consumers may substitute for dairy foods,” which may include a labeling standard that deems misbranded any plant-based products that include dairy names. The effort is intended to address the increasing availability of foods such as almond milk, coconut kefir, soy yogurt and vegan mozzarella cheese that bear the names of dairy foods despite not including any dairy products.