Thursday, September 17, 2020

Judge allows ersatz butter

A butter substitute made from plant proteins is still on the market in California.


United States. District Judge Richard Seeborg granted permission to Miyoko’s Kitchen to use the terms “butter,” “cruelty-free” and “lactose-free” while the court case proceeds. 


The order prevents the California Department of Food and Agriculture from enforcing regulations related to labeling and marketing of Miyoko’s plant-based product. 


The lawsuit, filed in February 2020, argues that the CDFA’s application of existing federal regulations is an unconstitutional violation of Miyoko’s right to free speech.


Meanwhile, federal politicians from both Democratic and Republican parties support an amendment calling for the Food and Drug Administration to budget $5 million to enforce dairy-product terms and are directing the FDA to finally start enforcing dairy product standards of identity, pursuant to a review process it began two years.