Taiwan Restricts 'Fresh Milk' Label to Certified Domestic Dairy
Taiwan has tightened rules on what can be labeled "fresh milk," restricting the designation to domestically produced pasteurized milk. A new logo printed directly on packaging will replace previous stickers, and imported milk can no longer carry the "fresh" label. Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration said that mislabeled milk would violate Article 28 of the Food Safety Act, and violators will face fines. The rule applies to all food and beverage businesses.
Title: New "Fresh Milk" Label Restricted to Domestic Pasteurized Products
REPORTER:
Only domestically produced pasteurized milk can now be labeled as “fresh milk.” A new logo printed directly on packaging will replace the previously used stickers. The agriculture ministry says the change will help consumers better distinguish between domestic milk and imported varieties, which can no longer carry the “fresh” label. The new rule applies to all food and beverage businesses, including boba milk tea vendors.
REPORTER:
Effective Wednesday, only domestically produced pasteurized milk can be labeled as “fresh milk,” marked by a new logo printed directly on packaging instead of stickers used before. The agriculture ministry says the change will help consumers better distinguish between domestic milk and imported varieties, which can no longer carry the “fresh” label. The new rule applies to all food and beverage businesses, including boba milk tea vendors.
REPORTER:
Clearer labeling could encourage prioritize procurement of locally produced raw milk, help consumers make better choices, and encourage dairy companies to offer farmers better procurement terms.
REPORTER:
If someone buys a café latte, they’d expect it to contain fresh milk based on what they paid, but if they are adding reconstituted milk made from frozen bricks or long-life milk, then that would be unacceptable.
REPORTER:
Meanwhile, a recent global cost-of-living survey ranked Taiwan as having the world’s most expensive milk, at an average price of more than 3 US dollars per liter.
