Labor, Coalition dodge questions on milk truth in labelling

Almond, soy, oat … There’s plenty of choices out there, but farmers say more needs to be done by Labor and the Coalition to stop plant extracts being labelled milk.

Labor and the Coalition are yet to commit to a dairy farmer-led push to clearly define the term ‘milk’, despite the bipartisan success of similar proposals abroad.

Direct reference to milk, cheese or butter for plant-based alternatives has been outlawed in the European Union since 2017, with bipartisan moves in the United States to follow suit.

In November 2020, the European parliament also voted to ban any indirect reference to dairy products for plant-based foods, which means descriptors including “yoghurt-style” and “cream imitation” cannot be used by food manufacturers.

NSW dairy farmer Graham Forbes led an Australian-based push to better define milk, butter and cheese alongside Shaughn Morgan when they served as Dairy Connect president and chief executive respectively in the 2010s.

Mr Forbes told The Weekly Times that both sides of politics needed to show leadership on the issue, with Australia now trailing the industrialised world.

“It’s a common sense proposal that most Australians would support,” the Gloucester region farmer said.

“I’ve got nothing against almond, oat or soy milk- consumers are free to make their own shopping choices. The issue was always the use of dairy phrases like milk and cheese for products that don’t contain milk.

“That’s why it’s called truth in labelling, it’s simply labelling something for what it is.

“The Europeans and the Americans have adopted similar labelling changes, so it’s something that could be easily adopted here in Australia.”

Close-up of pouring oat milk into black coffee cup. Making coffee at home.

A seven-month Senate inquiry led by Queensland National Party senator Susan McDonald investigated Australia’s existing food labelling regulations and their adequacy since the rise of alternative plant-based protein products.

The inquiry handed down its final report in February 2022 with nine recommendations to bring greater clarity to consumers, including establishing a mandatory regulatory framework for the emerging food category.

More recently, the Albanese government committed $1.5m in its 2024-25 budget to deliver on its commitment to improve existing regulations for labelling of plant-based and alternative protein products.

Last month, Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the government was still considering the Senate’s work.

“The government has been focused on implementing its commitment to deliver accurate and clear food labelling so that consumers have informed choice,” Ms Collins said.

An announcement is yet to be made by Ms Collins relating to dairy.

Earlier this month, Opposition agriculture spokesman David Littleproud pledged $1.5m towards enforcing clearer advertising of fake meat products.

The Weekly Times asked the National Party leader whether the initiative extended to dairy and Mr Littleproud said: “This announcement supports the meat industry but will form a basis to potentially review other standards.”