# Constitution be damned, the FDA is moving ahead to ban almond milk (so says the washington examiner) \[Note just the word milk is being banned\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 21, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046 "2022-08-21T20:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/1 "2022-08-21T20:01:08Z")
Wasnt this a republican/right thing years ago ? I mean they tried to pass some legal definition of meat but I think it was laughed off … > **[Constitution be damned, the FDA is moving ahead to ban almond milk](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk/ar-AA10OlPi?ocid=winp2sv1plustaskbarhover&cvid=d2e5756dce0b474bb475bc697bdcc874)** > > Governing a country as large as the United States is hard. Sometimes, government officials make mistakes. But that is no excuse for doing something they know is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/2 "2022-08-21T20:04:25Z")
This article doesn’t say why Almond Milk is being banned. It appears to be a strawman argument. What is the official reason Almond milk is being banned? Hopefully because it is one of the most water wasteful products ever made. * * * * * * So a little digging and it sounds like the word “Milk” is being banned from the incredible waste product currently known as Almond Milk. I don’t think the article you linked to is accurate in this case. ETA: I appended the title to correct the Examiners misleading bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/3 "2022-08-21T20:07:29Z")
from what I got out of it is they want to define milk as only coming from mammals and calling anything that’s calling itself milk that doesn’t come from mammals something else ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/4 "2022-08-21T20:09:21Z")
Yeah, I was going to point out that the issue is about labeling as @What_Exit noted in his edit. So I would say the Examiner should have been put out of pasture a long time ago from anybody’s links to use as a reliable source. > **[The FDA May Nix the Word ‘Milk’ From Your Almond Milk Carton](https://www.wired.com/story/the-fda-may-nix-the-word-milk-from-your-almond-milk-carton/)** > > Dairy groups have argued that using the name for plant-based drinks confuses people. Critics say their real motivation is declining sales. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/5 "2022-08-21T20:15:05Z")
Almond milk is NOT being banned. What is in dispute here is _labeling_. In fact, many people DO think the various nut and grain milks are nutritionally interchangeable with cow’s milk. They’re not. That does not make them UNhealthy, just different. Nut and grain milks do not, for example, have the calcium of cow’s (or goat’s or other mammal’s) milk unless that is added into it. There are differences in protein and other nutrient content. None of this would matter if people actually educated themselves and read labels but most of them don’t. In fact, half the population has an IQ under 100. Now, if I was Queen of the Universe and In Charge maybe I’d say we have to come up with some terms like “nutmilk” for “milk” made from nuts, and “grainmilk” for the oat milk variety, and keep milk for what comes out of mammals. Or maybe “crittermilk”. Then, perhaps, people would understand that despite some superficial similarities they are in fact different foods. And to address the environmental point @What_Exit brought up - almond milk, and almonds in general, are a truly water-hogging crop which in North America is grown in a typically _arid_ region so maybe we should be finding ways to either cut back on that or grow it more efficiently. Admittedly, it take about twice as much water to have a cow produce a gallon of milk than it does to produce a gallon of almond milk, but unlike almonds cows can live a lot of places, not just California’s Central Valley, so we can grow the cows where water is naturally abundant. Unlike, apparently, almonds. There are other crops that are water-hogs, too, but again they can (apparently) be grown in areas that naturally have more water. It’s not just that the almonds are thirsty, it’s where they are living that’s the problem. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/6 "2022-08-21T20:16:09Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Hopefully because it is one of the most water wasteful products ever made. Hey, when I use milk, I use almond milk. I was unaware of the wasteful nature of it. Is it the amount of water used to grow the almonds, or something in the manufacturing process? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/7 "2022-08-21T20:17:20Z")
Mostly how and where it is grown. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Admittedly, it take about twice as much water to have a cow produce a gallon of milk than it does to produce a gallon of almond milk, Can you cite that part, first I’ve seen those numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/8 "2022-08-21T20:19:10Z")
I’d say mostly it’s _where_ it’s grown. The California almond farmers have been trying to reduce their water usage in recent years, but it’s still a thirsty tree. If we could grow almonds in, say, the Great Lakes or Finger Lakes region it wouldn’t be such an issue because there’s water to spare, but it’s not the right climate. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/9 "2022-08-21T20:20:53Z")
Your estimate of water usage appear to be way off: [https://ixwater.com/cow-almond-and-oat-milk-take-how-much-water](https://ixwater.com/cow-almond-and-oat-milk-take-how-much-water) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/10 "2022-08-21T20:21:15Z")
They could call it Nut Juice. That would certainly be more accurate, although possibly less appealing except to certain demographics. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/11 "2022-08-21T20:22:50Z")
“Oat Milk” seems to be far more efficient and far less wasteful. I would say if you’re looking for a non-dairy alternative, that is the environmentally friendliest option. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/12 "2022-08-21T20:25:38Z")
The numbers are a bit fuzzy and are often argued, so here’s a bunch of cites so you can draw your own conclusion: [Cite](https://www.greenoptimistic.com/milk-problem-environment-20140908/) [Cite](https://www.businessinsider.com/real-villain-in-the-california-drought-isnt-almonds--its-red-meat-2015-4) [cite](https://www.truthordrought.com/almond-milk-myths) The problem with almonds isn’t so much that they need water - everything needs water - but that they’re climate restricted to where there isn’t a lot of water in North America. Downside to almonds: climate restrictions, grown in arid areas in North America. Downside to cows: need lots of feed and water, produce greenhouse gases Pro for almonds: carbon sinks that _reduce_ CO2 in the atmosphere Pro for cows: easily grown where water is naturally abundant. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/13 "2022-08-21T20:27:19Z")
How does oat milk froth? I don’t use cow’s milk because of the carbohydrates and use almond milk only for cappuccinos. It has a decent frothing capability, not as good as whole milk, but not terrible. I’d hate to lose the mouthfeel. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/14 "2022-08-21T20:28:16Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Almond milk is NOT being banned. > > What is in dispute here is _labeling_. In fact, many people DO think the various nut and grain milks are nutritionally interchangeable with cow’s milk. They’re not. That does not make them UNhealthy, just different. Nut and grain milks do not, for example, have the calcium of cow’s (or goat’s or other mammal’s) milk unless that is added into it. There are differences in protein and other nutrient content. Correct. Good points. That is a scare and false headline. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Hopefully because it is one of the most water wasteful products ever made. From your lips to Governor Newsom’s ears. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > “Oat Milk” seems to be far more efficient and far less wasteful. I would say if you’re looking for a non-dairy alternative, that is the environmentally friendliest option. I concur. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/15 "2022-08-21T20:32:36Z")
I can’t help you with that, but on the bright side, it sounds like you don’t use a lot of it anyway and your own impact is probably minimal. We go through a gallon of moo juice every week in this house. Our milk comes from mostly Penn or south Jersey so the transportation distance and waste in minimal. If we switched to a gallon of almond milk per week, that would be a fairly terrible decision. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/16 "2022-08-21T20:32:55Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > How does oat milk froth? Don’t know. If I can remember I’ll ask the barista at the local coffee shop about that tomorrow when I see her. Could probably improve the frothability with something like carrageenan but a lot of people are opposed to that, too. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/17 "2022-08-21T20:33:55Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > does oat milk froth [According to this article,](https://coffeeaffection.com/can-you-froth-oat-milk/#:~:text=Oat%20milk%20is%20a%20great,have%20frothed%20oat%20milk%20anytime.) > Oat milk is a great alternative if you can’t have dairy and it froths up perfectly, giving you the same mouthfeel as dairy milk. As long as you have a frother or steam wand at home, you can have frothed oat milk anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/18 "2022-08-21T20:53:46Z")
How about legume milk (i.e. soy)? As far as this stupid law is concerned, it has nothing to do with nutrition, it is only about the power of the dairy lobby and whatever politicians and bureaucrats they have bought. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/19 "2022-08-21T20:57:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Your estimate of water usage appear to be way off: > [Cow, Almond, and Oat Milk Take How Much Water? - IX Power Clean Water](https://ixwater.com/cow-almond-and-oat-milk-take-how-much-water) That’s one mixed-up cite. They say how much water is needed to make a cup of almonds, but then they go on to say that only a very small amount of almonds is needed to make almond milk, and they phrase it as if that makes it even worse, not better. And nowhere does it actually give a gallons to gallons figure. But if it takes 101 gallons to make a cup of almonds, and there are 16 cups in a gallon, and a gallon of almond milk is only 2% almonds, then the final figure is around 30 gallons of water per gallon of almond milk. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046/20 "2022-08-21T21:01:48Z")
Given the issues with almonds, something is surely wrong when I can buy 40oz of almonds on Amazon $13. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-be-damned-the-fda-is-moving-ahead-to-ban-almond-milk-so-says-the-washington-examiner-note-just-the-word-milk-is-being-banned/970046.md?page=2)