If this ruling is upheld across Europe, it could pose significant challenges for producers of vegetarian dairy alternatives, which have long been marketed under dairy-related names like “soy milk.” However, it seems unlikely that this interpretation of current legislation will go unchallenged, especially considering the impact on companies that have been successfully marketing their dairy alternatives for years. In the United States, a similar ruling has yet to emerge, but legal battles are ongoing in both courtrooms and Congress. Separate lawsuits were initiated against almond milk brands Silk and Almond Breeze, each alleging that the products were falsely advertised as nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk. Both cases were dismissed, either for a ruling from another agency or because the judge deemed the arguments unconvincing. The Silk case was sent back to the Food and Drug Administration for assessment, while the judge in the Almond Breeze case determined that reasonable consumers would recognize that a product labeled “almond milk” is not dairy.
Currently, a proposal before both houses of Congress, known as the DAIRY PRIDE Act—Defending Against Imitation and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday—aims to prevent any plant-based products from using dairy-related market names. Despite several co-sponsors, the bill is progressing slowly through the hearing process.
The European Court of Justice’s interpretation of European law was prompted by a claim of unfair competition, which may not directly relate to confusion over nutritional equivalence. European regulations allow the term “milk” to describe goat’s or sheep’s milk as long as proper labeling is provided. If consumers are expected to distinguish between goat’s milk and cow’s milk, they should also be able to identify products derived from almonds. As the European Vegetarian Union emphasizes, it is in everyone’s best interest to clarify these distinctions.
Although sales of non-dairy milk alternatives are increasing rapidly, they still lag behind dairy milk products, with figures showing $1.9 billion in sales compared to $17.8 billion for dairy milk. Nevertheless, the dairy industry feels threatened. According to Mintel, U.S. sales of non-dairy milk surged by 9% in 2015, while dairy milk sales fell by 7% during the same period. For those interested in exploring non-dairy options, it’s possible to ccm tablet buy online, reflecting the growing interest in alternatives. As the market evolves, the distinction between dairy and non-dairy products will continue to play a crucial role in consumer choices and industry regulations.