It’s Illegal to Ban Companies from Using ‘Milk’ or ‘Cheese,’ Lawsuit Claims

Less than 10 percent of American consumers believe that plant-based milk contains dairy-derived ingredients, according to research from the International Food Information Council. Despite this lack of confusion, dairy giants are lobbying state and federal governments worldwide to prevent plant-based companies from advertising with terms related to their animal-based counterparts such as "milk" and "cheese." This week, Rawesome filed a lawsuit against the Canadian and Quebecian governments to challenge the Food and Drugs Act, which prevents plant-based brands from using dairy-related terms.

Rawesome filed its two lawsuits after the City of Montreal filed charges against the company in 2021. Montreal claimed that labeling its vegan cream cheese with the term "cheese" would mislead consumers and that under Canadian law "cheese" is reserved for exclusively foods made from cow's milk.

Now, Rawesome is attempting to reverse the narrative to allow plant-based brands in Canada to advertise their products as milk and dairy alternatives. The company claims that banning companies from using these common terms violates Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, giving consumers the right to easily shop for foods that match their dietary preferences and personal beliefs.

“We believe it’s unconstitutional to ban plant-based food companies from using common language like ‘milk’ and ‘cheese’ to describe food,” Camille Labchuk, Animal Justice executive director and lawyer, told VegNews. “No one is misled or confused by cashew cheese or soy milk, and it’s time for Canadian regulators to stop targeting vegan companies. Labeling censorship gives an unfair advantage to Big Dairy and Big Meat, and puts plant-based companies at a competitive disadvantage.”

Teaming up with Rawesome, animal law organization Animal Justice was granted intervenor status for the lawsuit. The lawsuit aims to expose how Canadian lawmakers are protecting the dairy industry rather than serving their citizens and protecting the planet. This campaign also points out how Canada's food labeling laws are outdated. Created in 1979, the food labeling statutes have not adapted to the growing plant-based market and increased demand for sustainable food.

“The Canada Food Guide was updated three years ago to remove the dairy category, and it now encourages people to eat more plant-based protein. Yet Canadian labeling regulations haven’t been updated since 1979,” Labchuk continued. “We’re calling on the Canadian government to urgently update these laws to catch up with the growth of the plant-based sector, and help people more easily access vegan food that’s healthier, better for the planet, and better for animals.”

Rawesome and Animal Justice argue that these regulations represent pointed efforts to stall plant-based growth as meat and dairy giant begin to feel threatened. However, dairy production is an environmental hazard, preventing Canada from achieving its sustainability goals. One recent study claims that the Canadian population will need to reduce its animal-based consumption by 80 percent to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Within the United States, the California Department of Food and Agriculture attempted to prohibit the use of "butter" and "dairy" on plant-based products. However, Miyoko Schinner –– founder of Miyoko's Creamery –– countersued with the help of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Won. Now, American brands can market their products with meat- and dairy-related term without government intervention.

“The CDFA’s attempt to censor Miyoko’s from accurately describing its products and providing context for their use is a blatant example of agency capture,” ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells said. “The fact that animal-milk producers fear plant-based competition does not give state agencies the authority to restrict one industry to help another.”

This July, France attempted to prevent plant-based brands from using the word "meat" to describe their products. Plant-based organizations immediately lobbied against the decision including ProVeg International and Proteines France – a consortium of businesses aiming to enhance France’s plant-based industry. Then in August, France's highest court overturned the decision, citing that the new regulation did not give brands the proper amount of time to redesign their advertising strategies.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet's News articles. 

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood has been hailed for her “enormous” vocal range. When it comes to her diet, Underwood’s a fan of breakfast burritos and lots of tofu. She doesn’t shy away from the carbs, either. According to Cheat Sheet, one of her favorite snacks is a toasted English muffin with peanut butter.

Singer, songwriter, and “The Voice” coach, Blake Shelton, 43, has been working to stay fit recently with help from his long-time love, Gwen Stefani, who is a vegetarian and told him to get off the meat if he wants to feel fitter and lose some weight. Shelton has been trying to keep up with Stefani's impressive fitness level, according to an interview Stefani gave this fall. The former No Doubt singer and Hollaback girl is a longtime vegetarian, eats a mostly vegan diet, and is super fit-- and at 50, looks younger than her years. A source told Gossipcop, “Gwen’s told him the way to lose it is to stay the hell away from meat and bad carbs.” We're rooting for him!

The best-selling female country music singer in history isn’t buying any expensive steak dinners after a performance. The “Queen of Country Pop” has sold more than 100 million records but says she keeps her meat-free diet simple. She is both vegetarian and eats very little dairy -- though at times has said she does eat eggs.

Americana singer and songwriter Annette Conlon is also a passionate vegan. She started “The Compassionette Tour,” in an effort to bring compassion, social consciousness, human interaction, and animal issues to a mainstream audience.

The Man in Black is synonymous with country music, even nearly two decades after his death (1932-2003), probably in part because of the biopic about his life starring vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix. Ask any die-hard country music fan (or your dad, for that matter) and they will tell you that Johnny Cash was one of the best-selling musicians of all-time. His scores of hits include “I Walk the Line” and "Hurt" "A Boy Named Sue" and dozens of others. Cash himself was believed to have lived meat-free later in life to help combat some health issues. At Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon in Nashville, you can also load up on the meat-free dishes as the restaurant boasts a fully stacked veggie menu that includes greens, sweet potato mash, and fried okra.