Need Advice
I need a little help. I happened to mention to my father-in-law that I enjoy chocolate almond milk and he proceeded to give me a lecture that it's not "milk" and should not be allowed to be called "milk," blah, blah, blah! He wants truth in labeling. So do I, but I think he is nitpicking here. Now, I do realize that almond milk may not be milk in the technical sense that we know it, but geez, really???
I've been thinking about how to respond to him, but am at a loss. I want to be informative, but respectful. Any suggestions? I think I remember seeing some newscaster talking about truth in labeling in regards to cow's milk and plant milks not too long ago, but can't remember where I saw it. I just recall something about bovine mammary secretions or something like that.
Any help would be much appreciated! :)
To me, this just seems like a simple case of changing the frames of his mind and his definition of milk. How do you do that? Not sure. Haha! Maybe I'll have a mental breakthrough in a bit. haha
I do believe you are right and hopefully you will have a light bulb go off because I am stumped, lol!
Personally I wouldn't go into it. You're not going to change his mind because he doesn't want to change his ideas. Whatever you say will just prolong the argument. He doesn't want to listen, he wants to talk. I'd just kind of say "whatever" and let it slide.
Then he should take issue with Medieval Europe seeing as almond "milk" has been around for centuries.
If I'm not mistaken, "truth in labeling" refers to disclosure of the ingredients in a product, not the name of the product itself. Looking at my daughter's box of Almond Milk, the ingredients are clearly labeled and no one (with any common sense) could mistake it for animal secretion. The company could call it Poogala Poogala and as long as the ingredients are clearly listed they would be in compliance with truth in labeling criteria.
Have you mentioned to him that Silk is a dairy company but don't mind using the term milk to describe almond and soy milks?
I'd like to know if he's this concerned with labeling when it comes to organic, natural, non-GMO, GMO-free, etc? If he's just bitching about alt milks than you know it's really not worth the discussion.
Besides, what makes nut milks or oat milks, etc not milk?
Yes! Storm and Minke are on the path I was thinking. They can actually put it into words, whereas I say it like this - ljhivhsafvkmnv
You should just call it almond beverage because almonds clearly lack nipples. Your dad is obviously a revolutionary.
Wait..... you mean almonds don't have nipples? And there aren't millions of tiny almond farmers that sit with itty bitty buckets to milk them?
Obviously it can only be called milk if it comes from a teet!
(you should point out coconut milk as well. Pretty sure it's been called that for, like, ever).
Maybe almond, coconut and soy are code words for the size or shape of the nipple?
Wait..... you mean almonds don't have nipples? And there aren't millions of tiny almond farmers that sit with itty bitty buckets to milk them?
Obviously it can only be called milk if it comes from a teet!
(you should point out coconut milk as well. Pretty sure it's been called that for, like, ever).
Liquid coconut meat.
From Merriam-Webster:
Definition of MILK
1a : a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young; especially : cow's milk used as a food by humans b : lactation <cows in milk>
2 a liquid resembling milk in appearance: as a : the latex of a plant b : the juice of a coconut composed of liquid endosperm c : the contents of an unripe kernel of grain
There is more than one valid definition of milk. Almond milk certainly meets the second definition, and it is not untruthful to say that plant milks are "milk."
I agree with YG though. Probably nothing will change his mind. Sounds like he just wants to argue.
From Merriam-Webster:
Definition of MILK
1a : a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young; especially : cow's milk used as a food by humans b : lactation <cows in milk>
2 a liquid resembling milk in appearance: as a : the latex of a plant b : the juice of a coconut composed of liquid endosperm c : the contents of an unripe kernel of grain
There is more than one valid definition of milk. Almond milk certainly meets the second definition, and it is not untruthful to say that plant milks are "milk."
I agree with YG though. Probably nothing will change his mind. Sounds like he just wants to argue.
The definition of coconut milk as endosperm skeeves me way the hell out. BLECH. DARN YOU WEBSTER!!
You should just call it almond beverage because almonds clearly lack nipples. Your dad is obviously a revolutionary.
O.K., this made me laugh SO hard!! ;D
And yes, he wants it called almond beverage!!
So... I ended up giving him Webster's definition like hopfrog posted and also Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's 2 cents from her blog. I told him that it's my 2 cents and that he is entitled to his. I left it at that.
Thanks everyone!!
Well done, Ms. abrimmer. Ok..I'm writing you back! :)
Just a follow up, my father-in-law wrote me back and was very impressed by my response to him... thanks guys!! And... he has soy milk on his grocery list to try! :)
Just a follow up, my father-in-law wrote me back and was very impressed by my response to him... thanks guys!! And... he has soy milk on his grocery list to try! :)
:)