Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 4/23/19

The Plant Based Foods Association today is releasing a review of more than 7,000 public comments submitted to the FDA about the use of dairy terms for plant-based milk products.

MA got an early look. The review found that 76 percent of commenters were in favor of continuing to allow dairy terms in labeling of plant-based products like almond milk, according to PBFA, which opposes new restrictions on labeling of such foods.

By the numbers: The analysis was commissioned by PBFA and conducted by Linkage Research and Consulting, which looked at the comments out of a total 11,900 publicly available submissions to FDA.

— 87 percent of commenters who specifically identified themselves as consumers said they're not confused by the differences between plant-based dairy alternatives and foods made from animal milk, according to the findings.

When FDA issued the request in September, then-Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency "has concerns that the labeling of some plant-based products may lead consumers to believe that those products have the same key nutritional attributes as dairy products, even though these products can vary widely in their nutritional content."

On the Hill: House and Senate lawmakers have filed bipartisan bills, H.R. 1769 (116) and S. 792 (116), to block plant-based products from being labeled as milk, cheese and yogurt. But past efforts haven't gained much traction.