Several consumer groups object to a petition that groups representing the US dairy industry submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, requesting the agency to permit low-calorie chocolate milk and other flavored milk products to be sold on the market without labeling that conspicuously indicates they are reduced-calorie items.
At present, such information must be displayed prominently on the front of milk products.
In continuing coverage, The Hill (4/16, Wilson) “Regwatch” blog reports that the Food and Drug Administration “is defending new regulations for artificially sweetened milk after receiving a torrent of public criticism.”
Regulators say the labels, which require “milk producers prominently label their products ‘low calorie’ or ‘reduced calorie’ when they contain artificial sweeteners,” could have the “unintended effect of discouraging children from trying healthier milk products” because “reduced-calorie flavored milk is a turn-off to young consumers.”
The Hill notes that the FDA on Monday “asked for public input on whether the revised milk labels would provide enough information to consumers.” In a statement, Felicia Billingslea, Director of FDA’s Food Labeling and Standards staff, said, “The FDA recognizes the importance of this decision and is interested in hearing from the public and industry on the petition.”
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