- Feb 7, 2001
- 12,232
- 30
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Basically the milk industry is pissed because they see soymilk as threat. To combat this, they say the government shouldn't allow soymilk to be called *milk* because it doesn't come from a cow.
From 20/20
<< In February the NMPF filed a trade complaint with the United States Food and Drug Administration asking it to take appropriate enforcement action to prevent soymilk from being called milk. The NMPF claims that federal regulatory standards clearly limit the use of the term milk to the product that comes from dairy cows.
Currently soymilk is packaged like regular milk and sits next to it on the shelves of dairy isles in mainstream supermarkets.
However, although it looks and tastes similar to cow milk, it is produced from beans.
"Soy-based beverages are attempting to directly compete with dairy products and are inappropriately taking advantage of the familiarity and positive image of dairy terminology in their labeling" says Rob Byrne, NMPF vice president of Regulatory Affairs.
"We don't want them using milk's good name for their product," he says.
On the other hand, soy industry officials respond by explaining that milk is a generic word which is attached to many products, such as Milk of Magnesia.
And an examination of history shows that the term is far from new. It was actually used in ancient China and the earliest reference in Europe was in 1665.
Consumers should simply be allowed to choose the product they prefer and the milk industry ought to be faced with the same market place pressures and challenges as all other businesses.
The milk industry's political action committees give millions to politicians every year and seem to expect protection, such as government price fixing deals which raise the cost of milk for consumers.
Soy milk has many positive qualities which make it a competitive product.
Many people like its taste and it may even be healthier than cow milk. It has as much calcium, but less saturated fat and salt. And last year the FDA said that soy products could be labeled as food that helps lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Also, some people who have various food allergies or are lactose intolerant can comfortably drink soymilk. >>
From 20/20
<< In February the NMPF filed a trade complaint with the United States Food and Drug Administration asking it to take appropriate enforcement action to prevent soymilk from being called milk. The NMPF claims that federal regulatory standards clearly limit the use of the term milk to the product that comes from dairy cows.
Currently soymilk is packaged like regular milk and sits next to it on the shelves of dairy isles in mainstream supermarkets.
However, although it looks and tastes similar to cow milk, it is produced from beans.
"Soy-based beverages are attempting to directly compete with dairy products and are inappropriately taking advantage of the familiarity and positive image of dairy terminology in their labeling" says Rob Byrne, NMPF vice president of Regulatory Affairs.
"We don't want them using milk's good name for their product," he says.
On the other hand, soy industry officials respond by explaining that milk is a generic word which is attached to many products, such as Milk of Magnesia.
And an examination of history shows that the term is far from new. It was actually used in ancient China and the earliest reference in Europe was in 1665.
Consumers should simply be allowed to choose the product they prefer and the milk industry ought to be faced with the same market place pressures and challenges as all other businesses.
The milk industry's political action committees give millions to politicians every year and seem to expect protection, such as government price fixing deals which raise the cost of milk for consumers.
Soy milk has many positive qualities which make it a competitive product.
Many people like its taste and it may even be healthier than cow milk. It has as much calcium, but less saturated fat and salt. And last year the FDA said that soy products could be labeled as food that helps lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Also, some people who have various food allergies or are lactose intolerant can comfortably drink soymilk. >>
Why doesn't this suprise me?
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