Nutrition Regulatory and Scientific Environment Updates

Dear Friend,

Spring is in full bloom. Spring symbolizes a time of new beginnings and renewal as the natural world awakens from winter with new sprouts, baby animals and optimal conditions for milk productions. As California moves from response to recovery mode of HPAI (avian flu) this spring, there is optimism that milk production will rebound.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture plays a central role in upholding milk safety and quality standards every single day. The recent edition of CDFA’s Planting Seeds blog highlighted milk and dairy’s vital contribution to healthy eating patterns, and the commitments made in ensuring access to the wholesome dairy products that California communities rely on.

The food, nutrition, and agriculture regulatory environments continue to be busy with labeling policies, shifts in farmer funding programs, industry commitments to dairy product reformulations and more. Please see several updates below pertinent to the dairy community.

Regulatory Updates

FDA Webinar: 'Healthy’ Claim Final Rule

Earlier in April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted an informative webinar on the "healthy" nutrient content claim. FDA published the final rule updating the “healthy” nutrient content claim in December 2024 after receiving over 400 public comments on the proposed rule. While the FDA has given manufacturers until February 28, 2028, to comply with the new rule, manufacturers can start using the new claim as of April 28, 2025.

The webinar was recorded and is now available to learn more about the final rule and the updated criteria foods must meet to use the claim. View the webinar here.

FDA Proposed Rule on Front-of-Package Labeling Scheme: Public Comments Closing May 16 

On the heels of the updated “healthy” claim, the FDA released its proposed rule on a front-of-package nutrition labeling scheme, intended to provide consumers with quick and clear nutrition information. The proposed labeling scheme would focus on amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, using “Low,” “Medium” or “High” indicators based on the percent Daily Value of each of these nutrients.

FDA continues to collect public comments on the proposed rule until May 16, 2025. Instructions for submitting public comments can be found here.

USDA Reforms Climate-Smart Ag Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative will be reformed and overhauled into the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative, with changes to align the initiative with current Trump administration priorities. USDA will review existing grant agreements based on three policy priorities:

• A minimum of 65% of federal funds must go to producers;
• Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer as of Dec. 31, 2024; and
• Grant recipients must have made a payment to at least one producer as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Learn more about the announcement here.

Industry Updates

IDFA Healthy Dairy in Schools Commitment

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) recently announced the Healthy Dairy in Schools Commitment, a voluntary effort to eliminate the use of certain artificial colors in milk, cheese and yogurt products sold to K-12 schools for use in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program by the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Learn more on IDFA’s website.  

NMPF Global Dairy Trade Webinar 

The National Milk Producers Federation is hosting a members-only webinar examining the latest developments in U.S. trade policy under the Trump administration and how global markets are responding. The webinar will take place May 6, 2025, at 10 a.m. PDT. Register here.

IDF Nutrition and Health Symposium 2025

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is hosting an online symposium for nutrition and health professionals exploring the role of dairy and plant-sourced foods for nutrition and healthy diets. The symposium will take place on May 20, 2025. Registration is free and now open. Learn more about the program and speakers and sign up on IDF’s website.

New Dairy Agricultural Literacy Resource 

In partnership with California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, Dairy Council of California developed a new interactive handout that provides information on dairy farming, sustainability, hands-on activities and dairy nutrition facts. Download the Farm to You: Dairy handout here.

Spotlight on Dairy Research + Media  

• Voice of California Agriculture podcast: I had the honor of being featured on the April 3 episode of the Voice of California Agriculture podcast with host Gary Sack, recorded live at the Ag Day at the Capitol event at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Find and listen to the April 3, 2025, episode here.
• A new cross-sectional study found neutral or potentially beneficial effects of saturated fat from dairy products on body composition in young children. Read the full study here.  
• A recent study showed nutrients that can be found in foods such as dairy, fish, olive oil and certain nuts and seeds may be linked to delayed brain aging. Read the full study here. 

If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,

Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California