Uncategorized
Product warning labels: a global fight for dairy
By Tony Rice, Senior Director, Trade Policy, and Miquela Hanselman, MPH, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs
Walk down a grocery aisle in some countries and you might see large black stop signs or ominous-looking warning symbols on food packages. These are called front-of-package labels (FOPL), and they’re a simplistic way to flag products that contain high levels of added sugar, sodium, or saturated fats. While the intent here is to spur healthier eating, in practice these labels often result in treating a can of diet soda as a health product while covering a carton of whole or chocolate milk in caution labels.
When a public health policy discourages consumption of nutritious foods, it’s clearly not working the way it should. That’s a serious problem for consumers and dairy farmers everywhere. It impacts the size of the total dairy demand pie in these markets, putting U.S. export opportunities at risk in the process.
That’s why the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council are working hard to make sure dairy isn’t unfairly stamped with labels that discourage consumption and ignore dairy’s well-established nutritional benefits.
The fight in Latin America
Three of the most active regulatory battlegrounds right now are in Latin America.
In Chile, a market worth $100 million in U.S. dairy exports last year, a FOPL requirement was rolled out in 2019. As part of that requirement, milk, yogurt, and cheese that exceed the government’s thresholds for calories, saturated fats, sugars, and sodium must include a prominent warning label. NMPF and USDEC have been partnering with the Chilean Federation of Milk Producers to pursue dairy-specific exemptions and align this labeling scheme with the Chilean government’s dietary guidelines, which recognize dairy’s health benefits.
In Colombia, a market worth $183 million in U.S. dairy exports last year, the stakes are equally high. Regulators there are weighing a draft labeling proposal that threatens to label most dairy products as “ultra-processed” simply because production of these nutritious products requires certain processing steps or functional additives. NMPF and USDEC submitted formal comments to Colombia last month, and are working with allied Colombian dairy partners to advocate for exempting nutrient-dense dairy foods from any FOPL requirements.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, we’ve spent the past six years working hand in hand with dairy partners in that $2.6 billion dairy export market to steer Mexico’s FOPL regulation in a more workable direction, and stave off a misguided final stage that could have barred the use of many dairy products in publicly-funded facilities like schools and hospitals.
Educating decision-makers
Policy change doesn’t happen overnight, and it often depends on whether the people making decisions truly understand the science. That’s why USDEC, with the support of the National Dairy Council and NMPF, organized the NutriLact Congress 2026, a dairy nutrition congress held this past February in Lima, Peru, for more than 300 scientists, health officials, policymakers, and other attendees from 17 countries across Latin America. The event highlighted to policymakers, and the health practitioner organizations they work with, the unique ability of dairy products to address nutrient shortfalls across every stage of life, from pregnancy and early childhood through healthy aging.
The bottom line for dairy farmers
A warning label on cheese or milk overseas might seem like a distant problem, but it has real consequences for demand, exports, and the long-term reputation of dairy. NMPF and USDEC are on the front lines working to make sure that American dairy products don’t get misrepresented by a black stop sign. Through partnerships with like-minded organizations in the region and educational initiatives like NutriLact, the industry is building the relationships it needs to win this fight over the long haul.
This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on June 15, 2026.
Dairy Farmers Urge Action on Labor, Other Issues at Congressional Fly-in
More than 80 NMPF board members and young dairy farmers met with about 100 congressional offices today in the organization’s annual fly-in, advocating on behalf of dairy on issues ranging from agricultural labor to the recent return of New World screwworm to the United States.
The fly-in came after NMPF’s June board meeting on Tuesday, which was highlighted by remarks from Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden and Ambassador Julie Callahan providing perspective on the agriculture economy and trade landscape.
“We know what we need to do,” said NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud in remarks before the fly-in. “We will push in every way we can to make things happen.”
Other action items NMPF members called for in their meeting included:
- Passing a farm bill through the full Congress in 2026
- Maintaining access to all types of milk in school meal programs
- Passing the DAIRY PRIDE Act ensuring integrity in milk labeling
- Urging lawmakers to tell the administration to strengthen dairy provisions while renewing the USMCA trade agreement.
NMPF also welcomed a new board member, Ted Vander Schaaf of Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, and a new associate member, Illinois Farm Bureau.
The fly-in was organized by NMPF’s Young Cooperators program. The organization also held committee meetings as well as a workshop on Artificial Intelligence for co-op executives. NMPF leadership continues its meetings this week, discussing animal health and well-being along with other important industry topics.
Dairy Industry Leader Testifies before Congress on USMCA Dairy Priorities
Michael Lichte, Chief Insights and Optimization Officer for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), testified today before the House Committee on Agriculture on the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to U.S. dairy and the need for strengthening dairy implementation and enforcement during the agreement’s forthcoming joint review. Lichte served as a witness representing the National Milk Producers Federation as a board member and the U.S. Dairy Export Council as a director.
“Export demand now accounts for 17% of total U.S. milk production and has become one of the primary drivers of incremental growth across the dairy sector,” Lichte said. “For DFA and the U.S. dairy industry broadly, USMCA remains one of the most consequential trade agreements affecting long-term competitiveness, manufacturing investment, and farm-level economic stability. That’s why it’s essential that we strengthen and renew it.”
Mexico and Canada together account for more than 40% of all U.S. dairy exports by value. Lichte’s testimony focused on Canada’s administration of its dairy tariff-rate quotas in a manner that limits trade and its circumvention of USMCA export disciplines for dairy proteins, while also highlighting the importance of preserving U.S. exporters’ ability to use common cheese names like “feta” in Mexico.
On Canada, Lichte documented chronic underfill of negotiated dairy tariff-rate quotas, with cumulative fill rates reaching only 64% for industrial-use cheese, 34% for fluid milk, and just 7% for skim milk powder through 2025. He also detailed Canada’s growing use of alternative tariff classifications to move surplus dairy proteins into U.S. and global markets in ways that evade USMCA’s dairy protein export caps, a practice confirmed by a May 2026 U.S. International Trade Commission report.
“The underlying market distortions USMCA sought to discipline continue to affect U.S. manufacturers and global dairy protein markets,” Lichte added. “With appropriate enforcement and modernization, USMCA can continue supporting investment, export growth, and economic opportunity for the United States’ dairy farmers and processors for generations to come.”
A link to the written testimony can be found here.
NMPF Awards 2026 National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Winners
The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors selected five graduate students, conducting research that benefits dairy cooperatives and producers, to receive scholarships as part of the 2026 NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipients include:
Pari Baker, is a doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Molecular Virology Program. Her research analyzes the host determinants of susceptibility to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in mammary epithelial cells.
Haowen Hu, is a doctoral candidate studying Animal Science at Cornell University. His research explores the advancement of whole-farm environmental modeling in U.S. dairy systems through model evaluation and field-based refinement.
Gabriela Alejandra Macay Hernandez, a doctoral candidate studying Animal Science at University of Florida. Her research focuses on unraveling the effects of semen components on endometrial and oviductal responses and their impact on embryo development, fetal development, and postnatal offspring performance.
Vaishali Poswal, is a doctoral candidate studying Dairy Manufacturing at South Dakota State University. Her research focuses on environmental listeria persistence and biofilm formation in dairy microbial communities, as well as development of an antimicrobial peptide bio-sanitizer for enhanced control.
Jayden Scott, is a master’s student studying Food Science at Washington State University. His research explores the correlation of the microbiome, proteolysis and flavor development in white cheddar cheese varieties.
“Congratulations to each recipient of this year’s NMPF scholarships,” said NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud. “The dairy industry continues to reinvest in its future, securing academic research and development that is critical to advancing dairy’s mission. We are proud to support these dairy leaders in their educational pursuits.”
The recipients were confirmed as part of NMPF’s Board of Directors meeting held in Arlington, VA, on June 9. To learn more about and contribute to the NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship program, please visit the scholarship website.
It’s a GLP-1 World. You Need Dairy to Live in It
Is he, or isn’t he? Increasingly, he is.
With each passing year, GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight loss and diabetes management (and showing promise in other areas of treatment) are becoming increasingly mainstream, changing the waistlines, health outcomes — and diets — of Americans.
Source: MealFan, GLP-1 Statistics 2026, May 2026
But for all their benefits, wonder drugs don’t come without consequences. People may eat less and manage weight better, but they still need nutrition, and that makes every bite more important. In this brave new world, dairy stands out. Why?
- One word: Protein. Dairy products provide high-quality protein in relatively small portions, which is important when appetites are curbed. Greek yogurt, milk, and cheese deliver complete proteins containing all essential amino acids, keeping muscles strong and metabolism healthy as body weight declines.
- Beyond protein, let’s not forget about the 13 essential nutrients dairy provides, especially the micronutrients that are harder to obtain when calorie intake drops. Calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and vitamin B12 all play essential roles in bone health, nerve function, and energy metabolism. Maintaining bone density is important during weight loss — dairy supports that goal.
- Dairy also offers a convenient nutrition source when meals are smaller. Heavy meals unmanageable? How about yogurt, cottage cheese, or a smoothie? Need some variety and versatility? How about dairy and fruit, a dairy-based shake, or used as a base for savory dishes This flexibility allows individuals to maintain consistent nutrient intake without feeling overwhelmed.
- Another advantage is dairy’s role in satiety and glycemic control. The combination of protein, fat (in some varieties), and carbohydrates helps slow digestion and promote a feeling of fullness. For individuals managing blood sugar alongside GLP-1 therapy, milk and yogurt provide a steady, moderate source of carbohydrates without sharp spikes, complementing the blood sugar-lowering effects of the medication.
When appetite is reduced, nutritional efficiency becomes critical. Dairy delivers a powerful combination of protein, essential nutrients, digestibility, and satiety. For people using GLP-1s, it’s a simple, effective way to maintain balanced nutrition and support long-term health. And as an industry that thinks long term, promoting dairy’s benefits in a GLP world helps everyone.
NMPF Statement on the Return of New World Screwworm
From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud:
The return of New World screwworm to the United States decades after its initial eradication is a disappointing milestone, but it’s also one for which dairy producers have been preparing for more than a year, in collaboration with USDA and across agriculture. It’s important to remember that this development has no effect on food safety, and that measures to combat both the screwworm and its spread are in place and time-tested. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proactive efforts to prepare for this moment, and we stand ready to work with the department to address any ongoing challenges.
Now that USDA has confirmed that screwworm is here, dairy farmers and all livestock producers pledge close collaboration with USDA, state and local officials, and producer organizations to mitigate any harmful effects and educate farmers on how to protect their herds. We have been creating resources to guide farmers in their responses, and we will keep our members well informed of any important screwworm developments.
We also urge officials to follow scientific guidance in any decisions affecting animal movements and regulatory responses to avoid causing economic harm that could be greater than the screwworm itself. We also ask that adequate resources be provided to combat this problem, which causes suffering in animals and creates risk for producers.
April DMC Margin Up Almost a Dollar over March
The April margin under USDA’s Margin Coverage Program was $10.54/cwt, $0.97/cwt higher than the month before and marking the second consecutive month this year for which the Program generated no payment at any coverage level. The higher margin was driven by a $1.10/cwt increase in the all-milk price from March and a rise of $0.13/cwt of milk in the April DMC feed cost formula, driven almost equally by small increases in the formula’s three feed components.
At the end of May, the DMC Decision Tool on the USDA website projected there would be no other DMC payments this year other than a possible small one for August. That forecast for the remaining eight months of the year showed a somewhat unusual two-peaked structure for the monthly DMC margins, hitting peaks just above $11.00/cwt in both May and November, with an interim trough of $9.70/cwt in August, and averaging $10.05/cwt for the year.
NMPF Urges USTR to Protect Common Names in AGOA Modernization
NMPF, USDEC, and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) submitted formal comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on May 13, making the case that reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) should include explicit protections for common food names as an eligibility condition.
AGOA is a U.S. trade law that provides sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market when they meet certain economic and human rights conditions.
The comments commended the Trump administration for prioritizing and including common name provisions in nine reciprocal trade agreements to date, which ensure U.S. dairy exporters can market products under globally recognized generic terms like “parmesan” and “feta.” The three organizations urged USTR to extend that momentum to AGOA by making common name protections an explicit eligibility condition for beneficiary countries.
The stakes are significant as the European Union has aggressively used geographical indication provisions in trade agreements to lock out U.S. competitors by monopolizing generic cheese terms. AGOA modernization offers a powerful lever to reverse that trend, and NMPF is collaborating with allies in Congress and the administration to secure a level playing field for U.S. dairy across Africa.
May NEXT-Assisted Export Sales Total 21.4 Million Pounds
NEXT member cooperatives secured 93 contracts in May, adding 21.4 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2026. These products will go to customers in Asia, North America, Middle East-North Africa, South America and Central America and will be shipped from May through December.
Exporting dairy products is critical to the viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country. Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting, moving products into world markets is essential. NEXT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.
The referenced amounts of dairy products reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. NEXT will pay export assistance to bidders only when export and delivery of product is verified by submission of required documentation.
NMPF Highlights USMCA Importance at Events
NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council co-hosted a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement roundtable with Farmers for Free Trade on May 6 at Belgioioso’s facility in Green Bay, WI, alongside Congressman Tony Wied, R-WI, Land O’Lakes producer Amber Horn-Leiterman, and Wisconsin agriculture and business leaders.
NMPF made the case for targeted improvements to USMCA dairy provisions, including combatting Canada’s ongoing manipulation of dairy tariff-rate quota administration, addressing Canadian circumvention of dairy protein export disciplines and ensuring that Mexico preserves full U.S. cheese access to the Mexican market.
NMPF furthered its message two days later in Arizona, where United Dairymen of Arizona’s Jim Boyle, Jr. participated in a May 8 Phoenix roundtable with Governor Katie Hobbs hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Farmers for Free Trade.
Boyle highlighted the expanded export opportunities dairy producers have gained through the North American Free Trade Agreement and USMCA and emphasized the importance of improving and renewing the current trade deal.
With the mandatory July 1, 2026, USMCA joint review approaching, NMPF and USDEC are focused on ensuring that outstanding dairy issues with Canada are resolved, that trade remains fully open with Mexico, and that the three nations renew the trade deal.
NMPF-Endorsed Supply Chain Security Bill Passes House
Following significant support and engagement by NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the House of Representatives on May 13 approved the bipartisan Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA).
NMPF has been at the forefront of this effort, including staff meetings with members of Congress and the White House National Economic Council to underscore the considerable damage that organized cargo theft poses to dairy shippers. NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud met with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA, the lead sponsor of the bill, on April 30 to highlight dairy’s exposure to container break-ins and thank him for his leadership on this issue.
Dairy products are rarely the target of organized criminal activity, but increasingly have become collateral damage, which leads to costly shipment returns, limited insurance recourse, and real risks to food safety and U.S. dairy’s reputation as a dependable global supplier.
CORCA would establish a coordination center within the Department of Homeland Security to centralize investigation and prosecution efforts. NMPF worked directly to ensure food and agriculture remained included in the final legislation, which now advances to the Senate.
