CHAPTER 10. Dairy Beverages [39901. - 39912.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 10.
in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39901. Section 39901.

(a) Dairy beverages are milk and dairy food beverages resembling milk or milk products. However, dairy beverages do not conform to the compositional standards for milk or milk products as established in this code or Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations because they contain safe and suitable ingredients or combinations of ingredients not specified in those standards. Dairy beverages are products intended for consumption as a beverage. Milk or the components of milk shall comprise at least 15 percent of the product on a dry matter basis or at least 2 percent on a total weight basis. (b) For purposes of establishing compliance with the minimum dairy ingredient criteria, dairy ingredients shall include all products, components, and derivatives of milk, including, but not limited to, whey and whey products and caseinates specified in subdivision (c) of Section 135.110 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, but excluding added lactose.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39902. Section 39902.

The product may not contain any added fats or oils other than milkfat, except those fats present in incidental amounts that are naturally occurring in, or contributed by, flavorings or characterizing food ingredients. When the product contains water as an ingredient, water shall be declared in the ingredient list.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39903. Section 39903.

The product shall be pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, or UHT processed and packaged, pursuant to the specifications and procedures for the applicable process contained in the Code of Federal Regulations. The labeling shall comply with any applicable labeling requirements contained in the Code of Federal Regulations applicable to the heat treatment used on the product.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39905. Section 39905.

This article does not apply to any product regulated under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 38901) as a product resembling a milk product or any dairy product for which a standard is established in this division.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39906. Section 39906.

The label of all products subject to this standard shall be submitted to the secretary for approval prior to sale. In addition to the labeling requirements specified in this article, the secretary may, by regulation, require or prohibit any other information, format, or design for the label that the secretary determines to be in the public interest.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39907. Section 39907.

(a) The term “dairy beverage” or “a dairy beverage” may appear on the principal display panel of the product only when milk and the components or derivatives of milk comprise at least 30 percent of the product on a dry matter basis, or at least 4 percent on a total weight basis. (b) When the term “dairy beverage” or “a dairy beverage” appears on the principal display panel, it shall be in letters not exceeding the height of the largest letters on the principal display panel. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when the term “dairy beverage” or “a dairy beverage” appears on the information panel of the label of the product, it shall be clearly and conspicuously labeled in bold type and of a type size equal to that used in the ingredient list.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39908. Section 39908.

The product shall be labeled with a common or usual name of the beverage or a fanciful name that does not mislead, deceive, or confuse the consumer. Use of the name “dairy beverage” or “a dairy beverage” is restricted to products that conform to the requirements of Section 39907. The name shall not cause the consumer to believe that the product is a milk product for which a standard is established in this division.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39909. Section 39909.

Each container that contains the product shall be labeled with the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, and in the event the address is not the address of the manufacturer or final packaging plant, the label shall include the national uniform federal information processing standards state code number to be immediately followed by a hyphen and the plant number assigned by the appropriate state regulatory agency.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39911. Section 39911.

The label of the product may contain references to, and comparisons with, a milk product if those statements, symbols, marks, designs, or representations are reasonable, relevant, truthful, complete, and not deceptive or misleading. The secretary may require satisfactory proof of the compliance of any label with this section.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 39912. Section 39912.

No product subject to this standard shall be advertised, displayed for sale, or sold in any manner or under any circumstances or conditions that are likely to mislead, deceive, or confuse consumers into believing the products are products defined in this division. The secretary may require satisfactory proof of the compliance of a dairy beverage with this section.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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