Monday, June 7, 2010

Why Coffeemate considers its creamer to be non-dairy

I wrote to Coffeemate to inform them that the Non-dairy claim on their coffee creamer is misleading. Here is the response I got:

June 2, 2010
Dear Ms. Brown,

Thank you for taking the time to contact NestlĂ©® Coffee-mate® Non-Dairy Creamer regarding our products being labeled as non dairy. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers such as yourself and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.

The ingredient you're referring to is sodium caseinate, a milk derivative as stated on our label. Although sodium caseinate is a milk derivative, the process of manufacturing sodium caseinate is significantly different from that of other dairy ingredients.

Specifically, casein, the milk protein, is so materially altered during processing that both dairy scientists and government regulators no longer regard it as a true dairy substance.

This is why sodium caseinate is classified as a non-dairy ingredient by the FDA and can be added to products labeled as non-dairy. Sodium caseinate is not a source of lactose.

At Nestlé, we are dedicated to you and your family throughout every phase of your lives. Your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us to improve our products and services.

We appreciate your interest in our products and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.

Sincerely,
Beverly Watson
Consumer Response Representative

12 comments:

  1. Nestle can call a milk derivative whatever they want to, but it's still a dairy product! According to the website, americancasein.com, "Sodium Caseinate is a spray dried high quality milk protein for use in a variety of food and pharmaceutical applications where binding and emulsification properties are important." Notice the key words: "milk protein!" The milk protein, casein, is one of the most allergenic food substances there is, and it is also used to make adhesive for affixing labels to beer bottles. Does that sound like something anyone would want to consume?

    Beyond that, no matter how much they alter it, casein comes from the infected udders of severely mistreated, factory-farmed cows. So whether you are avoiding dairy for health or ethical reasons, you wouldn't want to consume anything that contains casein or caseinate.

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  2. I actually talked to a coffeemate representative on the phone and she repeatedly told me that the FDA has aproved the use of "non-dairy" labeling for something that does not contain lactose. Hah! Most dairy allergies are related to casein. So as long as the FDA approves it, coffeemate is sticking with the status quo.

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  3. Thanks for this post. I'm trying to avoid casein, and was wondering about coffee mate. Blah! I will go with soy milk, I guess.

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  4. Soy milk is not much better for you.

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  5. Any suggestions what is good to use in coffee? My joints are in pain after milk protein but I don't want to give up my coffee.

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  6. You might try coconut milk creamer. So Delicious makes a couple varieties.

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  7. You might try coconut milk creamer. So Delicious makes a couple varieties.

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  8. You might try coconut milk creamer. So Delicious makes a couple varieties.

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  9. This is probably labeled as such for people, like myself, who are lactose intolerant. And as someone with a lot of food allergies as well, I do wish the allergy content labeling were more in-depth but what can you do?

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  10. I have 100% lactose intolerance and when I drink coffeemate or international delight they both make me sick because sodium caseinate is from milk. So I think it's wrong for the FDA to say its non- dairy cause it effects me. I'll get silk creamer

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  11. I have 100% lactose intolerance and when I drink coffeemate or international delight they both make me sick because sodium caseinate is from milk. So I think it's wrong for the FDA to say its non- dairy cause it effects me. I'll get silk creamer

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  12. I'm disappointed not wanting to use anything to do with animals and for this reason it's wrong ethically to say non dairy when it is and not vegan friendly!!

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