Evidence-based report sheds light on dairy’s role in US diet
A report designed to inform the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans makes few – but important – recommendations on dairy intake
Regulation & safety
FDA evaluates labeling for plant-based milks, cell-cultured foods
FDA could strengthen labeling requirements for plant- and cell-based products to ensure consumers understand how their nutrition and production compare to that of their animal-based counterparts, agency officials told legislators last week.
USDA orders mandatory raw milk testing for H5N1
A new federal order has been issue requiring nation-wide milk testing in a bid to tackle the bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle
FDA issues guidance to strengthen US infant formula supply chain
The draft document contains information on how manufacturers must notify the regulator in a bid to improve supply chain resiliency
Should dairy drinks and RTD coffee be included in soda taxes?
The UK government is considering extending its Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk-based drinks and plant-based alternatives: putting milkshakes and RTD coffee in the firing line. Will this move go ahead - and could other governments consider doing the same?
USDA bets on bulk tank testing to curb bird flu spread
The goal is to better inform biosecurity and containment measures and inform state-led efforts to reduce risk to farmworkers.
UK considers extending sugar tax to milk-based drinks
Milk-based drinks are currently exempt from the UK's Soft Drinks Industry Levy: but the tax's scope could be extended to include sugary milkshakes, dairy drinks and RTD coffee.
Functional formulations with upcycled acid whey
Acid whey is typically discarded as a waste product from yogurt and cottage cheese production; but it could be better utilized as an ingredient in functional foods and beverages.
Dairy's place in WHO's definition of healthy diets
According to new guidelines released by the WHO and FAO, healthy diets should be adequate, balanced, moderate, and diverse. How does dairy fit into this?
Protected cheeses and vineyards receive €6.8m EC ‘resilience’ funding
Protected cheeses and world-renowned vineyards will take a share of the European Commission’s new €380m support package to help build climate resilience.
Farmers told to bolster biosecurity as HPAI spread ‘by no means on the downward trend’
Experts have warned dairy producers to assume the worst when taking steps to secure their premises against HPAI infections.
DGAC highlights nutritional disparities from latest dietary guidelines review
Removing animal-based and carbohydrate-containing products and other food groups can lead to significant nutrient deficiencies, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).
Lactaid milk recalled over nut contamination fears
HP Hood has recalled milk products shipped to 27 US states – here’s the latest.
Lactose-free dairy: A look at labeling standards and recommendations
The lactose-free milk market is in growth, but how are lactose-related packaging claims regulated in major global markets?
USDA encourages third-party certification for animal-raising claims after finding widespread misleading negative antibiotics claims in cattle
USDA is strengthening substantiation requirements for animal-raising claims on meat and dairy labels and promises to crackdown on false or misleading negative antibiotic claims after finding antibiotic residues in approximately one in five cattle...
EU dairy industry prepares for cooperation as China launches anti-subsidy probe
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has initiated a high-stakes anti-subsidy investigation targeting specific dairy imports from the EU, escalating trade tensions between the world’s second-largest economy and Europe.
Economic protections needed at US dairy farms if bird flu is to be studied effectively
The H5N1 virus is likely spreading undetected on dairy farms, a new study has concluded. But in-depth, on-site research would require robust economic safeguards to be put in place for the dairy sector.
Abbott’s $495m verdict sends shockwaves across the infant formula space
Mead Johnson Nutrition parent Reckitt Benckiser saw its shares slip to their lowest level in a decade after news of a bruising Abbott Laboratories verdict rolled in.
‘Wettest' British summer leads to calls for early slurry storage preparations
Britain’s dairy and livestock farmers have been urged to start their preparations for winter slurry storage now, as what’s expected to be the wettest summer in a century could put extra pressure on storage.
Danone Canada recalls Silk SKUs, US cheesemaker hears sentence
We round-up the latest regulation and food safety stories from North America . . .
Bird flu-hit dairy farmers can apply for milk loss assistance
The US Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications to reimburse dairy farmers who incurred milk losses due to the avian influenza outbreak in cattle.
Bird flu latest: FDA raises raw milk risks awareness, studies pasteurization effectiveness
The US Food and Drug Administration has launched an awareness campaign during National Dairy Month in a bid to curtail raw milk consumption.
Ice cream brands including Hershey’s, Chipwich in FDA product recall
Listeria contamination fears have sparked the recall of almost 70 ice cream products after FDA sampling uncovered the presence of the pathogenic bacteria.
US bill seeks to bolster animal welfare of livestock in transit
The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act will address ‘lax federal regulations’ that are allowing farm animals to travel interstate in ‘inhumane and cruel’ conditions.
New Zealand abandons plans to price farm emissions – for now
A government policy that could have put some dairy farmers out of business has been postponed – but what are politicians proposing now?
US bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle: What we know so far
We round up the latest news and information about the ongoing outbreak of H1N5(A) influenza affecting dairy cattle in the US.
US: Adulterated infant formula tests positive for Cronobacter
An infant formula product that’s part of a wider recall has tested positive for germs that can cause life-threatening conditions in infants.
Infant formula urgently recalled over non-compliance with US federal regulations
The infant formula products were recalled after the manufacturer failed to provide premarket notification to the FDA.
Can hot weather stop the spread of bird flu in US dairy cattle?
As a second US farmworker is diagnosed with influenza A, questions about transmissibility and preparedness mount. But there’s hope that a spell of hot weather may slow the spread.
Pediatric medical societies take issue with WHO guidance on cow's milk
Multiple leading medical societies from across the globe have challenged the WHO guidelines on complementary feeding for older infants and young children that recommend the introduction of cow's milk from six months of age.
Dairy farmer handed $19K bill over ‘polluting dam of manure’
A British dairy and arable farmer has been prosecuted for causing ‘catastrophic’ pollution after illegally-constructed slurry storage ruptured.
US dairy farmers to receive financial relief over bird flu outbreak
Around two months since the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle, the federal government is set to provide financial aid to affected producers.
FDA dairy recalls round-up: From formula to cream cheese
We round up the most recent recalls of dairy-based products issued by the US Food and Drug Administration.
US feed industry responds to alleged link between poultry litter and bird flu spread
Some media reports have implied poultry litter as a potential cause for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus spread in US dairy cattle, but it's unlikely the illness originated from animal feed, says AAFCO.
Bird flu can be highly lethal in cats that drink infected raw milk, vets find
The findings raise questions about cross-species transmission and how severe the effects of virus-shedding in milk from cows can be.
'In need of improvement': What's next for flavored milk and yogurt in US schools?
There will be less sugar and salt in US school meals but low-fat and fat-free flavored milks will continue to be offered after the USDA decided to stick with the current requirement.
UK introduces physical border checks for EU-imported dairy
The measures are part of the new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which is being phased in this year.
USDA orders mandatory bird flu testing for dairy cows
According to the federal order, dairy cattle must test negative for HPAI type A ahead of being moved interstate.
High consumption frequency of cheese and yoghurt could reduce occurrence of asthma symptoms – Iran study
A high weekly intake of dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, among children and adolescents was associated with 42% lower odds of wheezing, compared to those who never or only occasionally consume these foods, say researchers in the Middle East.
WHO’s ‘great concern’ over US bovine influenza outbreak
WHO’s chief scientist has called for increased monitoring and preparedness as he warns the bird flu virus that's now affecting US dairy cows could start spreading ‘in different ways’.
How much time should dairy cows spend outside?
To have a fulfilling life, cows arguably must be allowed outside. But what constitutes a ‘free-range’ cow is ambiguous. For optimum welfare, farmers must balance time outdoors and time indoors.
Bovine influenza: Import rules tightened as virus detected in 8 US states
The number of cases of affected dairy cows has grown to 24 as 18 states announced import restrictions.
FDA budget request seeks increased oversight of food ingredients, including GRAS compliance, dietary supplement information, warnings of shortages
FDA is seeking additional authorities and funding in its fiscal 2025 budget request to enhance its oversight – and by extension safety enforcement – of new food ingredients, additives and contact materials as well as dietary supplements.
From permits to quarantine: What’s next for US dairy farmers in the bird flu outbreak?
Producers have been told to improve biosecurity measures to protect herds and workers, with entry permits, quarantine measures and PPE use becoming hot topics.
Bird flu in cows ‘remarkably unremarkable’ as experts call for calmness
Experts have moved swiftly to dissipate producer and consumer anxiety as new cases of bird flu-positive dairy cattle emerge.
Final FMMO arguments are filed as USDA decision set to follow
The National Milk Producers Federation said it has submitted its final arguments in the long-lasting process of modernizing the US milk marketing order system. Now USDA has 90 days to issue a recommended decision before the process moves forward.
First human case of bird flu due to exposure to ill dairy cows recorded in the US
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed the first cow-to-human transmission of the novel avian influenza virus in Texas. Suspected cases of cow-to-cow transmission also emerge.
Animal rights groups sue FDA over failure to respond to petitions on ractopamine use in livestock
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, and Food Animal Concerns Trust filed a lawsuit this week demanding the US FDA provide a response to a 2012 rulemaking petition urging restrictions in the use of...
Bird flu in US dairy: What we know so far plus tips for producers (updated)
We round-up the facts around the HPAI outbreak affecting some US dairy herds, what farmers should do now to bolster biosecurity, and what all this means for milk supply and public health.
Texas ‘mystery’ illness: USDA confirms first cases of bird flu in US dairy cows
The unknown illness that struck dairy herds in the Texas panhandle has been identified as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as federal agencies work around the clock to contain the spread and minimize the impact to farmers.