Dr. Joyce Reintroduces the DAIRY PRIDE Act

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), joined by Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19), introduced  H.R. 8414, the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday or DAIRY PRIDE Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring the accurate labeling of dairy products and protecting consumers from misleading marketing. This legislation is expected to be considered at the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. 

The DAIRY PRIDE Act would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce existing “standards of identity” for dairy products, ensuring that products labeled as milk, cheese, or yogurt meet established nutritional and compositional definitions. The legislation also directs the FDA to take action against misbranded imitation dairy products marketed under traditional dairy names.  

Currently, many plant-based alternatives are marketed using traditional dairy terms despite not providing the same nutritional profile as real dairy products. The DAIRY PRIDE Act seeks to restore clarity for consumers while supporting America’s dairy farmers and producers by ensuring fair and honest labeling practices nationwide. 

“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how nutrition can shape long-term health outcomes. Dairy products are a critical source of essential nutrients in our everyday diet for our bone, brain, and muscle health,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “That’s why I introduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act to ensure that consumers are not misled by products that are marketed as milk but lack the same nutritional value. When labels blur the truth, it puts public health at risk, and that’s something Congress has a responsibility to fix.” 

“If it’s not milk, it shouldn’t be called milk. Upstate dairy farmers take pride in making nutritious products that fuel healthy families across the country. But as more and more non-dairy ‘yogurts,' ‘milks,' and ‘cheeses' crowd grocery store shelves, customers are getting confused and our farmers’ sales are taking a hit. We need action to stop this misleading labeling and protect American dairy farmers – which is exactly what our bill is all about,” said Congressman Josh Riley.