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HB 783

HEALTH/LDH: Provides relative to the regulation of food and food safety

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kim Coates

HB 783 restricts non-lactational dairy protein products from production, sale, or serving in Louisiana and requires clear labeling to prevent mislabeling as milk.

Effective date: See Act.
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Bill Summary · HB 783

Summary of HB 783 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and intent

HB 783, as amended by the House Committee on Health and Welfare, seeks to regulate and clarify definitions related to dairy products, specifically distinguishing traditional milk from non-lactational dairy protein products. The bill aims to prevent the mislabeling and improper handling of non-lactational dairy protein products and to restrict public procurement and sales of these products in Louisiana, aligning enforcement with existing milk standards.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions of milk and non-lactational dairy protein products

    • Redefines or clarifies “milk” to mean the lacteal secretion practically free from colostrum, obtained by complete milking of one or more healthy cows, and extend the interpretation to goat, sheep, water buffalo, camel milk, and milk from other hooved mammals. Milk may be pasteurized, homogenized, etc., and may be flavored with approved ingredients.
    • Adds a new definition for “non-lactational dairy protein product”: a food product produced through microbial fermentation or other manufacturing processes that contains dairy-identical or dairy-derived proteins but is not derived from natural mammalian lactation.

  • Regulation of non-lactational dairy protein products

    • Prohibits any licensed processor, distributor, supplier, or retailer from manufacturing, processing, packaging, storing, distributing, purchasing, or serving a non-lactational dairy protein product.

  • Public procurement and serving restrictions

    • Maintains existing preference for in-state milk and dairy products for state and local government purchases but extends the prohibition to in-state entities serving non-lactational dairy protein products. Specifically, state agencies and publicly funded institutions (e.g., public schools, universities, correctional facilities) would be barred from purchasing or serving non-lactational dairy protein products.

  • Labeling and enforcement

    • Requires clear, conspicuous labeling for non-lactational dairy protein products if offered for sale, with formatting requirements to be implemented.
    • The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) would enforce the standard of identity for milk and related dairy products, the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, and labeling provisions to prohibit mislabeling of plant-based products as milk or, now, non-lactational dairy protein products.

  • Effective dates and interplay with other laws

    • Section 2 defines the new terms and is designed to dovetail with the Dairy Stabilization Law and other dairy-related statutes.
    • Section 3/Section 4 establishes effective dates contingent on related legislation (House Bill 512) and standard constitutional timing (governor signature or leglislative approval after no-signature period).

Who is affected

  • Dairy processors, distributors, suppliers, and retailers handling dairy or non-lactational dairy protein products.
  • State agencies and publicly funded institutions that purchase or serve dairy products, including schools, universities, and correctional facilities.
  • Consumers, who would see clearer labeling and reduced risk of mislabeling non-dairy products as milk.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill’s definitions and prohibitions would become effective in relation to the enactment and related legislation (with some provisions aligned to HB 512). Final effectiveness depends on governor action and potential veto/legislative approval.
  • LDH enforcement would apply to labeling and misbranding, in line with existing milk standards.

Overall, HB 783 tightens the regulatory framework around what can be labeled or marketed as milk and restricts the sale and use of non-lactational dairy protein products in Louisiana.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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