Australian Dairy Farmers Seek to Redefine ‘Milk’ in Marketplace

Ben Bennett, the president of Australian Dairy Farmers, is calling on the federal government to establish clear mandatory guidelines that define what can be labeled as milk. According to Bennett, true milk should originate from an animal, not be a creation of clever marketing.

“You can’t truly milk an almond tree,” Bennett remarked, highlighting the difference between traditional dairy and plant-based alternatives.

“We need to be more straightforward with the terms we use,” he added, emphasizing the importance of transparency in product labeling.

With two decades of experience as a dairy farmer in southwest Victoria, Bennett understands the immense effort involved in producing traditional milk.

He argues that plant-based products are essentially “juices” with distinct nutritional profiles and calcium content compared to genuine dairy milk.

“We’re all competing for the consumer’s dollar, and rightly so,” he said. 

“The consumer should have the opportunity to have a transparent, informed perspective for the product that they’re consuming, and they are distinctly different.”

Australia has voluntary labelling guidelines outlined in an industry code of practice.

The federal government put $1.5 million in the 2024-25 budget towards a review of plant-based and alternative protein labelling and commissioned Food Standards Australia New Zealand to conduct a rapid review, market survey, and a consumer survey.

That research found that Australians can accurately identify plant-based products.

They did not believe plant-based products are nutritionally equivalent to animal counterparts and are not confused about ingredient content. 

The government will, therefore, work with the Alternative Proteins Council to strengthen the code of practice. 

​This will provide clearer guidance by discouraging animal imagery, limiting meat-specific terminology, improving the prominence of plant-based qualifiers, and establishing a complaints mechanism.

But Bennett’s message to plant-based manufacturers is simple.

”I think it’s time that they rode their own boat and stopped endeavouring to emulate us. If they’re so confident in the product, try having your own name,” he said.

9news.com.au has contacted Oatly and the Alternative Proteins Council for comment.

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