A Wisconsin Senator wants to make sure the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration tackles an issue that’s been a priority for the dairy industry for many years.
During the Senate confirmation hearing for Dr. Robert Califf, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) addressed the dairy labeling issue. Baldwin asked, “Will you commit to finalizing guidance without delay in providing a fair outcome that preserves the use of dairy terms for dairy products, and it resolves this matter once and for all?” Califf responded by saying, “Yes, thank you, I mean there’s almost nothing more fundamental about safety than people understanding exactly what they’re ingesting, so I’m committed to making this a priority.”
Dairy groups including National Milk Producers Federation are applauding the nominee’s commitment and Baldwin for pressing the issue. President and CEO Jim Mulhern says, “Labeling integrity needs to be a top-of-mind issue for Dr. Califf as he moves toward his second stint as FDA commissioner.” Mulhern says the ground has shifted since Califf’s previous tenure in the Obama administration, both as dairy imitators proliferate, and the abuse of lax labeling enforcement creates nutritional confusion for consumers.
Source: Brownfield Ag News