U.S. Dairy Industry Urges Congress to Reject S. 5026

U.S. Dairy Industry Urges Congress to Reject S. 5026

IDFA, NMPF and a coalition of dairy companies and cooperatives warn broad "ultra-processed" definition and warning labels would confuse consumers about nutritious dairy foods

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2026-The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), joined by more than 76 dairy companies, cooperatives and state and regional producer organizations representing the full spectrum of the U.S. dairy industry, today urged congressional leaders to reject S. 5026, the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2026, warning that the legislation could confuse consumers about the health and nutritional benefits of dairy foods and negatively affect dairy farmers, manufacturers and businesses throughout the dairy supply chain.

S. 5026 would establish a broad definition of "ultra-processed foods" and require front-of-package warning labels on products captured by that definition indicating their consumption may be linked to childhood obesity and diabetes. Under the legislation, those warning labels could appear on a wide range of nutrient-dense dairy foods, including whole milk, cheese, most yogurts and other cultured dairy products.

In a letter sent today to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the dairy industry expressed shared support for efforts to improve the health of Americans and reduce chronic diet-related disease, while cautioning that nutrition policy must be grounded in sound science and provide clear, consistent information to consumers.

"Nutrition policy should help Americans make better-informed choices, not create confusion by placing sweeping warning labels on foods that are an important part of healthy dietary patterns," said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. "S. 5026 relies on overly broad definitions of 'ultra-processed foods' and 'nutrients of concern' that fail to account for the nutritional value of individual foods or their role in the overall diet. Congress should reject this approach and ensure federal nutrition policy remains grounded in sound science and provides consumers with clear, meaningful information."

"Whole milk, cheese and yogurt are staples of a healthy diet, not foods that should carry a warning label," said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. "Dairy farmers work hard every day to put nutrient-dense food on America's tables. S. 5026 gets the science wrong, lumping wholesome dairy foods in with products that have nothing in common with them nutritionally. That's not informing consumers, it's misleading them about foods nutrition experts say Americans need more of, not less. Congress should reject this bill and work toward nutrition policy that actually reflects the evidence."

Dairy foods provide 13 essential vitamins and minerals and remain a core food group in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Yet most Americans do not consume enough dairy to meet recommended intake levels, including a significant majority of school-aged children.

The signatories to the letter span the U.S. dairy supply chain, including dairy cooperatives, processors and state and regional producer organizations. The U.S. dairy industry supports more than three million American jobs, contributes $779 billion to the U.S. economy and sustains communities across rural America.

"The dairy industry is united in opposition to S. 5026," the organizations wrote. "We respectfully urge congressional leaders to carefully consider the negative consequences this legislation could have for American consumers, dairy farmers and businesses, and the rural communities where dairy foods are produced and manufactured."

Read the full dairy industry letter here.

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Contact: [email protected]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in direct wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA's diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.