CHILTON, Wis. — American Dairy Coalition (ADC) is applauding the introduction of the bipartisan legislation Recognizing Engineered Alternatives as Lab-Created (REAL) Butter Act, introduced by Congressman Tony Wied (R-Wis.) and Congressman Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) to require fake-butter made through laboratory or industrial processes to be clearly labeled as “lab-created.”

The legislation was announced June 22 during a visit by Rep. Wied to Brickstead Dairy near Greenleaf, Wisconsin. Additional original cosponsors include Representatives Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.).

According to Rep. Wied’s office, the bill responds in part to the emergence of new products such as the alternative announced by Savor a year ago, a company backed by Bill Gates, producing fat through a manufacturing process using carbon dioxide rather than milk from dairy cows. The REAL Butter Act would require such products to carry clear “lab-created” labeling so consumers can readily distinguish them from traditional butter made from milk.

Importantly, the legislation goes beyond the retail package itself. Under the bill, foods containing a covered synthesized butter ingredient would be required to disclose that fact with labeling stating “contains lab-created butter.” As drafted, the bill is intended to provide transparency not only for consumers purchasing a butter substitute directly, but also for consumers purchasing packaged foods made with the ingredient.

“Consumers deserve complete transparency, and dairy farmers deserve a marketplace where products are honestly represented. Consumers should not have to become food detectives in the grocery aisle. If a product is created in a laboratory or manufactured from carbon-based inputs rather than milk from a cow, consumers should be able to identify that immediately from the package,” said Laurie Fischer, CEO of American Dairy Coalition.

“The REAL Butter Act supports informed consumer choice while preserving the integrity, trust, and reputation that dairy farmers have built over generations of producing nutrient-dense foods.”

Put simply, said Fischer, “this legislation is about honesty in labeling, transparency in the marketplace, and ensuring consumers have the information needed to make informed food choices.”

According to a press release from Congressman Wied’s office, this legislation is intended to prevent consumer confusion as new engineered food products enter the market.

“Billionaire food experiments are no longer hypothetical. Bill Gates is currently funding a carbon-based, lab-grown butter project created from carbon dioxide instead of milk from a cow, and it is happening in Illinois, right in the backyard of America’s Dairyland,” Wied said. “The REAL Butter Act would simply require that it be clearly labeled as ‘lab-created’ directly on the product. America’s dairy farmers put in the work every day to keep our families fed, our rural communities strong, and our agricultural heritage alive. They should not have to compete with products that hide behind vague or misleading labels.”

Congressman Riley emphasized the importance of protecting consumers and dairy farmers alike.

“Upstate dairy farmers work hard to make high-quality products that our families can count on,” Riley said. “Fake ‘butter’ alternatives shouldn’t be allowed to ride their coattails with misleading labels that confuse customers. Our bipartisan bill strengthens labeling standards for imitation butter, helping families make informed choices at the grocery store and protecting dairy farmers in Upstate New York and across the country.”

“Americans can decide for themselves what products they wish to consume,” Fischer noted. “But what they cannot do is make an informed choice if they are not given clear and accurate information. This bill does that.”

ADC has long advocated for truth and integrity in dairy labeling policies to ensure consumers have the information they need to make informed choices.