Oatly can no longer refer to its plant-based drinks as 'oat milk'

UK: “Milk Can Only Come-Out of Cow” – Opines Post-Brexit British Court – Buckley to EU Dictates! (12.1.2026)

Last year, the EU parliament voted to ban the use of terms such as “oat milk” and “veggie burger” — but such a ban will not come into force until it is backed by the European Commission and all 27 member states.

European farmers have argued such terms mislead consumers and threaten their industry.

Environmentalists have said that the ban will harm sustainability efforts and is an overreach by the meat and dairy industries.

Richard May, partner at law firm Osborne Clarke, said of the Supreme Court ruling: “It confirms that, even post-Brexit, the UK will continue to take a strict approach to the use of protected dairy terms, closely aligned with the EU regime.

“The key principle is straightforward: if a product is not derived from animal milk, it cannot be marketed using reserved dairy designations such as ‘milk’ or ‘cheese’.”