BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 25, 2023
A dispute over the labeling of products made from dairy versus nuts and other alternatives keeps churning, and two big-name Maine politicians are in the fight. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King joined six colleagues in signing a letter sent to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf urging him to prevent “dairy imitation products” from using terms like milk, cheese and yogurt on labels. This labeling dispute has played out at the federal level for years, with dairy farmers and producers arguing plant-based or cell-based products cloud the meaning of “milk.” King and Collins have previously called out alternative milk producers in the past for using that term. It is an example of how dairy farms continue to hold cultural sway in states including Maine, where the struggling industry has gone from nearly 4,600 farms in 1954 to well under 200 now. At the same time, the alternative milk industry is on the rise, with one estimate saying the market is expected to more than double globally through 2030.