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

The Food and Drug Administration is extending until Jan. 28, 2019, the period for comments 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. As announced in a notice issued in September (see 1809270024), 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. The input will inform FDA's development of labeling standards for plant-based dairy substitutes, which may include a labeling standard that deems misbranded any plant-based products that include dairy names.