The Louisiana Dairy Industry is having a cow over the rise of almond “milk”, saying the label is not accurate, so Delhi Senator Francis Thompson has filed a bill to prohibit non-dairy products from describing themselves as milk. Thompson says the false advertising tricks some into buying the less nutritious dairy alternative.
“You would be doing a disservice, possibly health wise. Not that the almond milk is not a tasty thing, I hear, but nothing is better than cows milk.”
A cup of Almond milk is lower in calories and higher in calcium than a cup of two percent dairy milk, but contains less protein and other nutrients.
In North America, almonds are almost exclusively grown in California, and Thompson says the west coast product is damaging the local industry by misleading Louisianans about what they’re actually buying. The Senator says the bill would help protect local farmers.
“We don’t want to lose any of our farm industry because of some one else tagging onto our milk.”
It’s estimated that there are now fewer than 80 dairy operations in the state, which features a declining dairy cow population that could approach 8,000 in the near future.
While Thompson’s bill only specifically addresses “milk”, the Senator says it’s not the only labeling dispute that he’s considering pursuing. The Delhi Democrat says products like cauliflower “rice” and lab grown “steak” need to change their labeling.
“Rice dose not need any help from someone else adding another product to that, even in the beef industry if it says beef, it needs to be beef.”
If approved, SB 39 would go into effect in August.
