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Farm groups support Wisconsin food labeling bills

Wisconsin dairy and beef producers testified at a hearing Thursday supporting three state food labeling bills. 

Dairy Business Association President Tom Crave told reporters before the hearing consumers often don’t know what is really in the products they buy. “People often make judgments about a food’s nutritional value based on its name. Consumers deserve transparency. Words do matter. Milk is milk, cheese is cheese, very plain and simple.”

Matt Ludlow is the President-Elect of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association says they have similar consumer concerns regarding beef. “The processes from the federal level to the state of how these products are produced is going to be at the forefront. I’m glad that we are ahead of the curve here in Wisconsin. Missouri has taken a step in the right direction. I’m glad Wisconsin is following.”

Assembly co-author Travis Tranel says farmers have invested millions through their checkoff programs developing markets and explaining to consumers the benefits of real meat and dairy products, and for imitators to piggyback off that success isn’t right.  “As a farmer myself, I can tell you it’s very frustrating when you go through the grocery store and you see people choosing soy milk thinking that it’s actually milk from a cow.”

The Wisconsin food labeling package has three separate bills.  One is for milk labeling, another for meat labeling, and a third for dairy product labeling.

Dave Buholzer from the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association also testified in favor of the bills.

The Wisconsin bills have been introduced and will go through the committee review process before any floor votes are taken. They are:

• Milk Labeling : Senate Bill (SB) 466 and Assembly Bill 516
• Dairy Product Labeling: Senate Bill 463 and Assembly Bill 515
• Meat Labeling: Senate Bill 464 and Assembly Bill 518