If this ruling is upheld across Europe, it is likely to create significant challenges for producers of vegetarian dairy alternatives, which have long been marketed using dairy-related names such as “soy milk.” However, it is difficult to envision that this interpretation of current legislation will go unopposed, especially considering it could impact companies that have been successfully marketing their dairy alternatives for years without issue. Thus far, the United States has managed to avoid a similar ruling, but comparable battles are taking place in courtrooms and in Congress. Separate lawsuits were filed against almond milk brands Silk and Almond Breeze, both alleging that these products were falsely advertised as nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk. Both lawsuits were dismissed, either for another agency to address the issue or because the judge found the claims unconvincing. The Silk case was sent back to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its decision, while the Almond Breeze case was dismissed by a judge who determined that reasonable consumers would immediately recognize that a product labeled “almond milk” is not dairy.
Currently, a bill being reviewed in 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 — seeks to prohibit any plant-based food from using the market name of dairy products. Despite having several cosponsors, the bill is slowly moving through the hearing process. The European Court of Justice’s interpretation of European legislation was prompted by a claim of unfair competition, which may not necessarily pertain to confusion regarding nutritional equivalency. European law allows the term “milk” to describe goat’s milk or sheep’s milk, provided the product is appropriately labeled. If consumers are expected to differentiate between goat’s milk and cow’s milk, they should also be able to identify when a product originates from almonds. The European Vegetarian Union emphasizes that clarifying these distinctions is in everyone’s best interest.
Although non-dairy milk alternatives are experiencing rapid growth in popularity, their sales remain modest compared to those of traditional dairy milk products, standing at $1.9 billion versus $17.8 billion for dairy. Nonetheless, the dairy industry feels increasingly threatened. According to Mintel, U.S. non-dairy milk sales surged by 9% in 2015, while sales of dairy milk plummeted by 7% during the same timeframe. As the demand for alternatives rises, consumers are also looking for the best calcium citrate 1200 mg options to ensure they meet their nutritional needs. With the ongoing shifts in consumer preferences, the importance of understanding the differences in product labeling and nutritional content becomes ever more critical. In this evolving market, both consumers and producers must navigate these challenges while ensuring they make informed choices, particularly when it comes to finding the best calcium citrate 1200 mg supplements to support their dietary needs.