Menu
Natural cheese varieties displayed alongside a headline reading “Proposed Legislation Seeks Federal Definition for Natural Cheese"

Proposed Legislation Seeks Federal Definition For “Natural Cheese”

HART Insight Summary

Recent legislative activity has renewed efforts to create a federal definition for “natural cheese,” a term widely used across the dairy industry but not formally defined in federal regulation. The proposed Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions (CURD) Act seeks to establish a clear distinction between natural cheese and processed cheese, aiming to reduce consumer confusion and bring greater consistency to labeling.

The bill has bipartisan backing, with support from multiple representatives and strong endorsements from organizations such as the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association (WCMA). While the outcome of the legislation remains uncertain, the discussion underscores the importance of standardized terminology across the dairy sector.

Key Takeaways

  • The CURD Act would establish a federal definition for “natural cheese.”
  • The bill seeks to differentiate natural cheese from processed cheese.
  • The legislation has bipartisan congressional support.
  • Major dairy organizations, including IDFA and WCMA, support the effort.
  • Similar legislation previously passed the Senate but stalled in the House.
  • Supporters say a definition would reduce consumer confusion and improve transparency.

At A Glance:

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
Original Publish Date: December 2025
Source: Dairy Processing

Several representatives voiced support for a bill that aims to establish a federal definition for the term “natural cheese.”

During a US House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting Dec. 12, US Reps. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) testified in support of the Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions (CURD) Act.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association (WCMA) noted Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) also submitted letters that urged the committee to advance the legislation.

The latest version of the CURD Act, which was first introduced by Steil earlier this year, would designate the difference between natural cheeses and processed cheeses – a move many in the dairy industry support because it guards against consumer confusion.

IDFA and WCMA, which praised the politicians for their support of the CURD Act, noted the US cheese industry has used the term “natural cheese” for decades. In 2018, the Senate passed the CURD Act, but it didn’t pass in the House before the close of the 115th Congress.

“Defining the term is good for the consumer and good for the industry,” IDFA president and chief executive officer Michael Dykes said. “It maintains transparency and consistency for shoppers so that they will know what they are buying in the grocery store.” Both Dykes and WCMA executive director John Umhoefer thanked the representatives for their efforts. Umhoefer said WCMA’s members are ready to work with Congress on moving the legislation forward.

“The dairy processing industry uses the term ‘natural cheese’ to help consumers differentiate cheese made with fresh milk and dairy ingredients from pasteurized processed cheese,” Umhoefer said.

HART Perspective

As labeling requirements evolve, consistent definitions help ensure that production practices, quality standards, and packaging workflows all align with regulatory expectations, particularly important for manufacturers operating across state lines or serving diverse customer segments.

What This Means

  • A federal definition could provide greater consistency across labeling and marketing.
  • Standardized terminology may reduce ambiguity for processors operating across multiple markets.
  • Clear distinctions between cheese categories can support transparency and consumer trust.
  • Ongoing legislative discussion underscores the importance of clarity within the cheese supply chain.

Attribution

This article references industry reporting and data originally published by Dairy Processing. HART Design & Manufacturing has added independent analysis and dairy-processing context. The original publishers did not contribute to or review these additions.

Keep Up To Date On Cheese Industry News

Find all of HART Design & Manufacturing’s current industry news here.

Related Posts