UK Court Rules Oatly Cannot Label Products as "Milk," Citing Dairy Industry Regulations
The legal contention centered around Oatly's use of "milk" in its branding, with Dairy UK arguing that the term should be reserved exclusively for products derived from animal mammary secretions. While Oatly had previously won a High Court ruling allowing it to use the phrase "Post Milk Generation" as a trademark, the appellate court has now overturned that decision.
The Court of Appeal affirmed that the term "milk" must be used strictly for dairy products, citing legal frameworks that regulate the use of terms related to food and drink. The ruling aims to preserve clarity for consumers and uphold industry standards.
Bryan Carroll, Oatly's British and Irish manager, expressed disappointment in the court's decision, criticizing it as a move to protect "Big Dairy" at the expense of consumers and plant-based innovation.
“Disappointingly, this ruling overturns the common sense we saw from the High Court earlier this year when they ruled in our favor,” Carroll stated. “This decision benefits the interests of Big Dairy and Big Dairy alone. It stifles competition, creates an uneven playing field for plant-based products, and delays progress toward more sustainable diets.”
The ruling is expected to have wide-reaching implications for the labeling and marketing of plant-based beverages in the UK. Industry observers note that the decision could lead to tighter restrictions on how alternative food products are described, potentially complicating efforts to promote plant-based diets.
As the plant-based food sector continues to grow, this ruling underscores the ongoing tension between traditional dairy producers and emerging vegan brands, raising questions about consumer choice and regulatory fairness.
