“This is a victory for common sense and we hope that the EU will take note,” Jasmijn de Boo, Vice President of ProVeg International, said. “Everyone knows that oat milk, for example, is from oats and not from cows. Studies have shown that consumers are not confused. The FDA has taken the right approach and we hope this helps to bring an end to the restriction of plant-based labels in other parts of the world,” de Boo said.

The draft guidance, which is open to comments – to be submitted by 24 April 2023 – under a two month consultation period, also says that plant-based drinks that use the term milk should explain how their nutritional content compares to cow’s milk. While the recommendations are optional, companies often comply with the FDA’s guidance to protect them from legal action.

“We intend to comment later and in more detail on the voluntary nutritional declaration in the FDA proposal as we are keen to see the FDA create a level playing field for plant-based milk on the US market,” de Boo added.

Why plant-based milk should be promoted, not restricted

Plant-based milks typically have a much smaller carbon footprint, between 63% and 78% smaller than animal-based milk.^[1]Poore, J. & T. Nemecek (2018): Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. 360 ^[2]ProVeg International Plant Milk Report, 2019 (proveg.com) In addition, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from animal based foods are twice those from plant-based foods, so policies need to be pushed that encourage plant-based nutrition.

As well as being climate-friendly, fortified and unsweetened plant milks also offer nutritious alternatives for people who do not drink dairy milk. Such alternatives play an important role in a well-balanced varied vegan diet, or any diet trying to reduce animal consumption. People choose dairy alternatives for their functional use, not because they need to resemble an animal product exactly in nutritional value. According to the British Association of Dietitians (BDA), well-planned vegan diets offer all the nutrients required for all ages and life stages. Globally, about 68% of people are lactose intolerant, so plant milks provide a greater choice on the market and enhance inclusive diet choices.