Soy, oat, almond and other drinks that bill themselves as “milk” can keep using the name, according to draft federal rules released Wednesday.

Food and Drug Administration officials issued guidance that says plant-based beverages don’t pretend to be from dairy animals – and that U.S. consumers aren’t confused by the difference.

Dairy producers for years have called for the FDA to crack down on plant-based drinks and other products that they say masquerade as animal-based foods and cloud the real meaning of “milk.”

Under the draft rules, the agency recommends that beverage makers label their products clearly by the plant source of the food, such as “soy milk” or “cashew milk.”

The rules also call for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of nutrients than dairy milk, such as calcium, magnesium or vitamin D. They would continue to allow labels that note when plant-based drinks have higher levels. Fortified soy milk is the only plant-based food included in the dairy category of U.S. dietary guidelines because of its nutrient levels.

The new guidelines are aimed at providing consumers clear nutrition information, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement. The draft rules do not apply to nondairy products other than beverages, such as yogurt.

The National Milk Producers Federation, an industry trade group, applauded the call for extra nutrition information on drink labels, but said they rejected the FDA’s conclusion that plant-based drinks can be called milk because it’s a “common and usual name.”

The Good Food Institute, a group that advocates for plant-based products, objected to the extra labeling in a statement, saying “the guidance misguidedly admonishes companies to make a direct comparison" with cow’s milk, even though key nutrients are already required to be listed.

In recent years, the number of plant-based drinks has exploded to include dozens of varieties, including cashew, coconut, hemp and quinoa-based beverages. Although the drinks are made from the liquid extracts of plant materials, they are frequently labeled – and described – as “milks.”

In the U.S., almond milk is the most popular variety, but oat milk has been seeing the fastest growth. Still, nondairy sales are dwarfed by traditional milk. Sales of refrigerated cow’s milk grew to $12.3 billion in the 52 weeks ending Jan. 28, compared to $2.5 billion for nondairy milk, according to NielsenIQ.

In the past, lawmakers in dairy states have tried to get bills passed that would require the FDA to enforce a federal standard that defines “milk” as the product of “milking one or more healthy cows.”

The agency will accept comments on the draft guidelines through April 23.

LEE, N.H. — As the final days of fall linger, life on the farm grows a bit colder and quieter, but for Ryan Courtwright, there is still plenty of work to be done.

Courtwright is responsible for overseeing a 300-acre farm in Lee, New Hampshire. While it might look like any other commercial dairy operation, the land is owned by the University of New Hampshire. Courtwright is an employee of the university and in a way, so are these dairy cows.

Most of their lives are monitored for various research studies. One of the most recent studies is looking at how much methane these cows produce. Their methane output is measured by a small machine. Grain is placed inside the machine and as cows place their heads inside to eat, methane measurements are taken.

“There’s more methane coming from the front end of the cow than the rear end,” Courtwright said with a bit of a smile on his face.

But what these cows likely don’t realize, is that they’re on the front lines of combating climate change.

Andre Brito is a researcher at UNH and has spent the last few years feeding cows seaweed in various forms or another. What he and his team have found is that by adding even a small amount of seaweed into a cow's diet, they can reduce the amount of methane cows produce by up to 20%.

“Not necessarily replace all the hay in the diet. We are basically replacing small amounts of what’s fed to dairy cows,” Brito said.

The methane from these cows is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The harm those gasses are doing to the atmosphere is profound. By some estimates, 25% of all methane is produced directly from fermentation by cows.

“We should be looking at this now. It’s very important to be looking at solutions right now,” he added.

For farmers, the best part of all this is that even by supplementing just small amounts of seaweed into these cows’ diets, milk production and milk quality remained incredibly high.

Over the next few years, Brito and his team are hoping to study various kinds of seaweed, and measure how different types of the plant impact methane production.

In February 2020, Elle Purrier was on top of the track world. “The Millrose Mile, when I broke the American Record was a huge stepping stone. A turning point in my career. And then after that the whole world just kind of stopped,” Purrier said.When the Tokyo Olympics were postponed, Purrier seemed to be on the path all Olympic hopefuls aspire to – peaking ahead of the trials. However, one record was no peak.“Honestly, I feel like it is just kind of better, I feel like a much better athlete now. I have a whole year of training and mileage under my belt,” Purrier said.In the extra time, Purrier added the 2-mile indoor American record to her resume, as well as the world’s best 1500-meter time this season. However, the accolades here in the United States are not what she’s locked in on. “Medaling in the Olympics would be the ultimate goal. I really think I can do it if It’s the right day and the right race,” Purrier said.Growing up on a Vermont dairy farm, a young Purrier didn’t always talk about Olympic medals. “I feel like as a young kid I didn’t ever think that I would be a runner, especially at this level. It’s kind of funny to think back to that. Honestly, I am still getting used to this ‘Elle’ the confidence has come over a long period of time,” Purrier said. Purrier accredits her newfound confidence to physical and mental toughness, as well as staying in her own lane. “I have had a different path to get to where I am as compared to all the people that I am competing against, so me not comparing myself to them,” Purrier said.She’s confident, yet grounded. With hopes to truly experience her Olympic moment.“It would be the ultimate goal to represent my country, and I hope I can really enjoy those moments, if I make it there, you know, just really be there,” Purrier said.A place that only a small percentage of people can say they have ever been.