Joe Scimeca, Ph.D., senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), issued the following statement on FDA’s decision to permit the use of milk protein concentrate (MPC), milk protein isolate (MPI) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) in products labeled “high protein milk”:

“FDA’s decision to allow milk products utilizing high-quality protein concentrates to be labeled as ‘high protein milk’ is a positive step for greater flexibility and continued innovation in the dairy industry. This sort of flexibility allows the industry to provide the American public with more nutritious, high-quality dairy products.

“Dairy foods companies are innovating and creating new and exciting ways to deliver healthy, more convenient and better-tasting products to a growing consumer base. IDFA believes standards and regulations play an important role in ensuring food safety, quality and consistency, but excessive rules can stifle innovation and reduce the competitiveness U.S. dairy foods in the global marketplace. IDFA will continue to work with FDA on labeling flexibility that allows for greater innovation in dairy.”