US trade group the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) has released what is says are the first-of-its kind standards for the labelling of plant-based yoghurt in the United States.
The goal of the voluntary standard is to promote nationwide consistency in labelling across the plant-based yoghurt category, which grew by over 31% last year in retail sales in 2019.
Clear, understandable labelling
“As consumers increasingly seek out plant-based yoghurt options, the Plant Based Foods Association is leading the way by promoting a labelling standard that suggests clear labelling terms that consumers understand,” said Michele Simon, PBFA’s executive director. As the industry leader in plant-based food advocacy, PBFA has released voluntary labelling standards for plant-based milks in 2018 and plant-based meats in 2019 and will continue to release additional standards for other categories.
PBFA’s plant-based yoghurt standards recommend the use of qualifiers indicating that the food is plant-based (“plant-based, “dairy-free,” “non-dairy”) in a prominent position on the principal display panel. PBFA drafted the guidelines in consultation with those members that represent the category.
Political threats
As well as setting a series standards for plant-based producers, the PBFA says it also fighting a a series of policy battles as plant-based sector is subjected to a series of “politcal threats from special interests”.
Recently, PBFA claimed a recent victory when Virginia Governor Ralph Northam vetoed HB 119, which would have prohibited the use of the word “milk” on plant-based milk labels. PBFA opposed this bill in the legislature and wrote a letter to Governor Northam asking him to veto the bill. PBFA called the Governor’s decision “a major victory for the plant-based foods industry”.
Products from US plant-based yoghurt brand LAVA, via Instagram