Plant-Based and Substitute Proteins: Naming and Regulatory

Brian Sylvester’s session covered FDA regulatory considerations tied to the naming of a range of plant-based foods.

In particular, he focused on FDA's relatively recent Draft Guidance, “Labeling of Plant-based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements”, and provided the legal POV on insights, not just for plant-based milks, but more broadly for understanding how FDA will approach the issue of naming plant-based alternatives more generally. The presentation also considered the draft guidance in the broader context of consumer scrutiny and litigation, and shared best practices for managing risk for a range of plant-based foods and alternative protein products.