Political push for ‘milk’ and ‘meat’ word ban on plant-based products

The Nationals have thrown their support behind a ban that would see plant-based drinks and foods stripped of the right to use the word ‘milk’ and ‘meat’.

Dairy groups have backed The Nationals push to ban non-dairy drinks using the word ‘milk’. Picture: Peter Hemphill

THE Nationals will push for a ban on alternative and plant-based products using the word ‘milk’ and ‘meat’ in Australia.

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said the move, voted on at their Federal Council meeting over the weekend, wasn’t about “picking beef over soy beans or cow’s milk over an almond protein drink”.

She said there was room for both, “but one thing’s for sure — they’re not the same thing”.

“No self-respecting vegetarian would want to rock along to a barbecue to find that their vege-burger actually contained meat,” she said.

“Just as meat eaters don’t want to find their meat patties are actually made from chickpeas and tofu.”

Senator McKenzie said she would attend the next Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation where she would put the issue on the agenda.

The move was praised by Australia’s peak dairy farmer group, who also started a ‘Reclaim milk’ petition gaining more than 2000 signatures.

“The dairy industry has long been fighting against the dishonest labelling and marketing of plant-based alternatives that are co-opting the look and feel of dairy and giving the misleading impression that these products are nutritionally equal to dairy,” Australian Dairy Farmers president Terry Richardson said.

The group said a 2017 survey by Dairy Australia had showed 54 per cent of respondents bought plant-based milk alternatives because they perceived them to be healthier than dairy milk.

It said the ban would bring Australia in line with other countries such as those in the European Union, where dairy terms cannot be used on plant-based products.

“We are calling for changes to the food standards so that consumers trying to make a healthy choice at the supermarket have the benefit of transparent and accurate product labelling,” Mr Richardson said.

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NSW Farmers also welcomed the decision to have non-dairy drinks, such as soy, cashew, almond, oat, hemp, rice and coconut extracts, banned from being marketed as milks.

“There is a place for the products, but they are hijacking the look and feel of dairy, while claiming to have the nutritional values of fresh cows’ milk,” NSW Farmers’ dairy committee chair Colin Thompson said.

Earlier this month, animal activists called for “transparent” labelling on meat products, including how the animal had died, and even a list of pests killed in the production of horticulture and grains.