Story Archive

Imitation Truth in Labeling

“Ocheessee’s product is imitating — literally imitating — skim milk,” said attorney Ashley Davis, representing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Literally? “It came right out of the cow,” said Judge Robert Hinkle. Ocheessee caters to customers who “want an all-natural product,” says co-owner Mary Lou Wesselhoeft; its skim milk has nothing added. Yet that’s why the bureaucrats say it’s “imitation”: real skim milk, they argue, has nutrients added to make up for those removed when the fat is eliminated from whole milk to make skim milk. While they wait for a ruling, Mary Lou and Paul Wesselhoeft have to pour out the milk; they used to sell hundreds of gallons of a week, but they’re not allowed to sell it without the “imitation” label. (AC/AP) ...So decree the bureaucratic guardians of the imitation public good.