WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the bipartisan Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act (DAIRY PRIDE Act) of 2025 to crack down on the unfair practice of mislabeling non-dairy products using dairy names. The practice, such as calling non-dairy imitation products “milk” or “yogurt” that do not contain dairy and are instead from a plant, nut, or grain, hurts dairy farmers who work tirelessly to ensure their products meet rigorous health standards and causes consumer confusion about the nutritional value of dairy versus imitation products.
“As an Aroostook County native, I know how essential the dairy industry is to Maine’s economy and how hard our state’s dairy farmers work to produce nutritious milk, yogurt, cheese, and other products. It is unfair for non-dairy products to capitalize on milk’s nutritious brand,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would help protect our dairy farmers and the quality of their goods by requiring non-dairy producers to accurately label their products.”
Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations define dairy products as being from animals, however, the most recent FDA guidance on fluid dairy products allows plant-based alternatives to continue to use dairy terms despite not containing dairy, nor having the nutritional value of dairy products. The DAIRY PRIDE Act would require the FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of mislabeled imitation dairy products within 90 days and require the FDA to report to Congress two years after enactment to hold the agency accountable for this update in their enforcement obligations.
This legislation is supported by the National Milk Producers Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, and Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI).
“NMPF thanks Sens. Tammy Baldwin, Jim Risch, Peter Welch, and Susan Collins for their continued leadership in prodding FDA to simply do its job, which Congress can ensure by enacting the DAIRY PRIDE Act,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s time to get rid of FDA’s 2023 guidance on labeling imitator beverages and replace it with straightforward policy that makes FDA enforce its own dairy standards of identity.”
“America’s dairy farmers take seriously the responsibility of providing families across the country with healthy, safe and affordable products they can count on,” said Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “The DAIRY PRIDE Act will help ensure consumers can make an educated decision when choosing what to put on their tables. We appreciate the work of Senator Baldwin to bring this legislation forward, and for her continued support of farmers and ranchers.”
"We applaud Senator Baldwin and Risch for the reintroduction of this important Act to uphold the integrity and trust of American dairy products,” said Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President, Heidi Fischer. “Preventing the misuse of dairy product names protects and enhances the confidence consumers have in the authenticity of the nutritious dairy products they buy. We encourage timely action on this bill to prevent further misleading product names on our grocery store coolers and shelves."
The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).
The complete text of the bill can be read here.
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