WhiteWave, now owned by Danone, firmly opposes recent lawsuits questioning the validity of the term “almondmilk,” claiming that these legal challenges are a misuse of time and resources. Over the past few months, both WhiteWave Foods and Blue Diamond Growers, which produces Almond Breeze, have faced class-action lawsuits from consumers alleging that their plant-based milk products misleadingly assert they are as nutritious or more so than traditional dairy milk. A report from Mintel indicated that sales of non-dairy milk in the U.S. increased by 9% in 2015, while dairy milk sales saw a decline of 7% during the same period. Given these statistics, it’s understandable that dairy companies are targeting those behind alternative products, as they pose a threat to market share and could lead to falling dairy milk prices.
This conflict has been brewing in the industry for quite some time. In 2013, a federal judge in California dismissed a lawsuit against major dairy processors, including WhiteWave, which accused these alternative dairy brands of mislabeling their plant-based products as “milk,” despite lacking any dairy origins. By the end of 2016, over two dozen U.S. lawmakers had signed a letter to then-FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, urging an investigation into the use of the term “milk” by plant-based dairy brands.
In January, the “Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act,” known as the DAIRY PRIDE Act, was introduced in the Senate to compel the FDA to exclude nut or plant-based milk alternatives from the definition of milk. This is a battle that dairy manufacturers are unlikely to abandon anytime soon, and it will be intriguing to observe how consumers react. It appears improbable that dropping the term “milk” will deter aficionados of nut-based dairy products from purchasing brands like Silk and Blue Diamond, as many individuals prefer these options for their taste and lower fat content.
Amidst these discussions, it’s important for consumers to consider their nutritional needs, such as finding the best calcium citrate supplement, especially if they are transitioning from traditional dairy to plant-based alternatives. The ongoing debate surrounding the use of the term “milk” may influence some consumers, but the demand for products that meet their dietary preferences, including those enriched with the best calcium citrate supplement, will likely continue to drive the market.