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