Consumer Understanding of Milk, Non-Dairy Alternatives
Approximately three-quarters of Americans understand that plant-based “milk” products do not actually contain cow’s milk
As the US Food and Drug Administration considers a proposal “to provide greater clarity on appropriate labeling of plant-based alternatives” to milk and dairy products, a new survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation shows a low level of consumer confusion over nomenclature and basic differences between the two.
According to the survey, approximately three-quarters of Americans understand that plant-based “milk” products do not actually contain cow’s milk (75% for soymilk and almond milk, 74% for coconut milk, 73% for rice milk and 72% for cashew milk). Fewer than 10% believe that any of those products contains cow’s milk, while the remainder say they don’t know (20% for cashew milk and rice milk, 18% for coconut milk, and 16% for soymilk and almond milk).