Doctors Group Files Complaint Over ‘Wood Milk’ Ad
In April, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service approved an ad that features “The White Lotus” actress Aubrey Plaza mocking plant milk. But the now-viral “Wood Milk” ads violate laws forbidding federal agricultural promotions from depicting products in a negative light, according to a complaint filed with the USDA Office of Inspector General by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization.
Using a fictitious product named “Wood Milk” as a stand-in for plant-based milks, the ads deride plant-based milks.in
The “Wood Milk” campaign violates the statutory prohibition against advertising that is “false or misleading or disparaging to another agricultural commodity” and the regulatory prohibition against “unfair or deceptive acts or practices with respect to the quality, value or use of any competing product,” the Physician Committee’s complaint says.
It also violates a federal law that says USDA milk advertising dollars can’t be used to influence legislation or government action or policy. On Feb. 23, the FDA announced new proposed guidelines that would allow plant-based milks to be labeled using the word “milk.” The agency invited the public to submit comments by April 24, before final guidelines would be established. The “Wood Milk” ad campaign was launched before that comment period closed. On May 1, the comment period was extended to July 31. The “Wood Milk” campaign has run continuously since then.
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service administers the federal commodity promotion and research programs, commonly referred to as “checkoff” programs. The USDA approves all “checkoff” advertising and is responsible for reviewing and verifying all nutritional claims.
The Physician Committee’s complaint requests that the Office of Inspector General issue a recommendation that the “Wood Milk” ads stop and that the milk “checkoff” issue corrective advertising that explains the benefits of plant-based milks.
“The ‘checkoff’ is a government program,” said Physicians Committee President Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, adjunct professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine. “It is one thing for it to promote cow’s milk. It is quite another thing to mock the products that many nonwhite Americans choose for health reasons.”
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We Wish You a Safe Memorial Day 2023
SweetWater Releases Summer Brew American Lager
SweetWater Brewing Company, the ninth largest craft brewer in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, Inc., announced the summer release of SweetWater American Lager, a special edition of SweetWater’s flagship Lager, featuring American red, white and blue branding now available in over 10 states across the United States with national distribution coming soon.
Ty Gilmore, president, U.S. beer, Tilray Brands, said, “SweetWater’s American Lager is a salute to American craft beer and our best-selling flagship Lager. We hope the refreshing and crisp American Lager will be a staple at backyard barbecues, tailgates and get-togethers this summer.”
SweetWater’s American Lager (4.5 percent alcohol by volume) is a clean-bodied craft beer with a 100 percent premium Pilsner grain bill along with Crystal and Hallertau hops, expertly brewed for easy-drinking. The new American Lager is flowing at SweetWater’s flagship taprooms in Atlanta and Fort Collins, Colo., and is also available in 12-packs of 12oz cans at grocery and liquor stores, as well as bars and restaurants across the United States in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Maryland, California, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas, Missouri, West Virginia and Mississippi.
This Memorial Day weekend, SweetWater will also be one of the participating breweries at this year’s Brew at the Zoo from 6 to 9:30 p.m., May 27, at 800 Cherokee Ave. in Atlanta. To find Sweetwater’s American Lager and other craft brews near you, checkout SweetWater’s beer finder online at www.SweetWaterBrew.com.
One of Atlanta’s original craft breweries, founded 26 years ago, SweetWater Brewing is now the 9th largest craft brewers in the United States. With two flagship breweries in Atlanta and Fort Collins, Colo., SweetWater’s award-winning craft beers and ready-to-drink cocktails are available coast to coast and in more states than ever before. Inspired by the outdoors, SweetWater is a passionate advocate for healthy waterways and conservation initiatives. Through its annual Save Our Water campaign, SweetWater continues to raise funds to support nonprofit organizations fighting for clean water and habitat conservation, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Trout Unlimited.
SweetWater Brewery is a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, Inc., a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life.
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