NORTH CAROLINA -- State agriculture leaders are looking to solidify the definition of the word "milk."

  • New provision looks to ban the use of the word "milk" to advertise for non-dairy products.
  • Dairy farmers in N.C. have seen a decline in business in recent years. 
  • Federal law says milk has to come from a mammal. 

With the rise in popularity of soy- and almond-based products, N.C. cow farms are now at risk.

According to N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler, many dairy businesses have seen their profits slide into the red. "For the last three years, dairy farmers would probably be better off to walk out the door every morning, with a fist full of 100 dollar bills and throw them into the air," says Troxler. "They've been losing money and selling milk at below production costs."

But a new proposal in the NC Farm Act of 2018 looks to clarify what can be sold as "milk" in North Carolina. 

The provision would ban the use of the word "milk" to advertise for non-dairy substitutes, meaning suppliers would be required to re-label their products. 

North Carolina would not be first to make this rule, however. Many countries in Europe have issued similar legislation. 

Under current federal law, anything that does not come from a mammal is legally considered not milk. But that law is not currently enforced. 

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