Vegan ‘ice cream’: Magnum’s launch a sign of an ‘increasing problem for the dairy industry’
There is a growing number of Australians adopting a vegan life and there are also an increasing number of people opting for dairy-free alternatives without committing to a vegan lifestyle, so we believe dairy-free Magnums will have a wide appeal in Australia.
NAAMAN ZHOU: ‘The peak body for Australian dairy farmers has labelled a new vegan Magnum made of pea protein “a problem for the dairy industry” and said it should not be called an ice-cream. The vegan Magnum, released widely in Australia this month, is a dairy-free version of the popular ice-cream snack. It features dairy-free chocolate made from coconut oil and cacao butter, and pea protein flavoured with vanilla.
At launch, its maker, Unilever, described it as a “velvety plant-based product” that provides “a creamy experience without the need for dairy”. “A first for the Australian market, the 100% dairy-free range will feature two of the brand’s signature flavours … allowing vegans the opportunity to enjoy and share a moment of pure pleasure,” the company said. A Unilever spokeswoman said the vegan Magnum was not misleading because it was never marketed or described as ice-cream but rather as an “iced confection”.
Under Australian food regulations, only products with cream or milk can be called ice-cream. But a spokesman for Australian Dairy Farmers said the launch of the Magnum and other non-dairy alternatives to ice-cream was an issue for the industry. “This is becoming an increasing problem for the dairy industry, with plant-based alternatives incorrectly being marketed as milk or other products associated with dairy,” he said…
A spokeswoman for Unilever said the vegan Magnum would appeal to both vegan and non-vegan consumers. “There’s no doubt that there is a growing number of Australians adopting a vegan life [and] there are also an increasing number of people opting for dairy-free alternatives without committing to a vegan lifestyle, so we believe dairy-free Magnums will have a wide appeal in Australia. “We’re confident that there will be positive feedback … and are pleased that we have been able to create product that holds true to Magnum’s chocolatey, creamy experience without using any dairy”.’ SOURCE…
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