What Is Milk? Wisconsin Senator Wants It To Be Exclusively Dairy

There's an interesting article in today's SF Chronicle, "Nut, dairy industries in froth over 'milk' label" by Tara Duggan, reporting on Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin's proposed legislation called the Dairy Pride Act to make it unlawful for beverages made from soybeans, nuts, coconut, hemp or other plants to be labeled 'Milk."

http://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Who-owns-milk-Nut-and-dairy-industries-10924668.php

Almond milk sales have soared 250 percent in the past five years and per capita cow milk consumption has gone down 11 % during that period.  Milk prices have dropped.

California is the country's largest producer of both milk and almonds and also has the most vegan restaurants.  (I image that's partly due to the large population.)  

I learned that the Plant Based Foods Association in San Francisco represents 68 makers of animal product alternatives like Daiya Foods.  They sent a letter to Congress urging the members to reject Baldwin's proposal because it would hurt them.

Others speaking out included Miyoko Schinner, the vegan cookbook author and founder of Miyoko's Kitchen in Fairfax, where the vegan "cheese" we like comes from.

Mintel says 49 percent of Americans drink nondairy milk alternatives, but almond milk still makes up only about 5 percent of the total fluid milk market, according to Nielsen. (What percentage does milk make up?  Soy?  Rice?)

Tara Duggan does offer reasons that people choose nondairy milk alternatives:  "allergies or perceptions that plant-based foods are better for you, more environmental, or more humane."


Overall per capita consumption of dairy products is up--4 percent between 2013 and 2015--even though fluid milk consumption is down.

Michele Simon, head of the Plant Based Foods Association says that "Dairy Pride" is actually an acronym for "Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday."

I think Baldwin's Dairy Pride Act is going to lose.  As someone points out, peanut butter doesn't contain butter.    Almond milk has been mentioned in literature since 1226.  (I'd like to know how and in what.)  Soy milk has been around since about 1365 according to "History of Soy and Other Non-Dairy Milks," co-written by William Shurleff of Lafayette.  Duggan identifies him as "the nation's preeminent tofu chronicler."