American Dairy Coalition Challenges FDA's New Healthy Labeling Rule

The American Dairy Coalition (ADC), an advocacy group for dairy farmers, has officially objected to the FDA's newly proposed Healthy Labeling Rule. The rule aims to set front-of-package rating labels for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar, but ADC argues it unfairly targets dairy products.

According to ADC, the rule, which allows public comments until July 15, 2025, sets outdated thresholds for these ingredients. "The rule discriminates against all real dairy products, except nonfat yogurt and nonfat milk, due to outdated thresholds for saturated fat and sodium, ignoring the nutrient density and essential nutrients provided by dairy," ADC states.

ADC's public comment warns that these regulations will further decrease the consumption of essential nutrients, particularly affecting children who need these nutrients for growth. The rule would restrict most dairy products from making a healthy claim, thereby potentially reducing their consumption.

Furthermore, ADC criticizes the labeling system as misleading, arguing it highlights only certain nutrients without providing complete dietary information. "Under outdated dietary guidelines, only unflavored non-fat yogurt and milk qualify for the healthy label," ADC explains, noting that such products are often sweetened to improve taste.

ADC urges the FDA to reconsider the guidelines in light of the nutritional benefits of dairy, such as calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D, which are crucial and under-consumed according to health panels.