Speak Out: Should Dairy Industry Be Allowed to Add Artificial Sweeteners to Milk Without Telling Consumers?

Two milk trade groups are asking the Food and Drug Administration to relax labeling regulations regarding flavored milks.

Currently, flavored milk is required to clearly state on the label whether the product has reduced fat or sugar because of artificial sweeteners.

If they don't abide by those regulations, dairy manufacturers can't call their products “milk,” according to the FDA.

According to NBC News, lobbyists say that those regulations give other beverages an unfair advantage.

They say that reducing the labeling restrictions would make it easier to get their products into schools where, they say, that could make a difference in the fight against obesity.

But some research has shown that artificial sweeteners, such as those found in diet colas, don't help you lose weight, and could actually have the opposite effect, making you crave more calories.

The FDA received the request from the groups in 2009, but have only recently allowed for public comment on the issue.

Comments can be submitted to the FDA here.

What do you think? Should milk manufacturers be allowed to sell their products without clearly alerting consumers to the presence of artificial sweeteners? Or would you want to know if your milk, flavored or otherwise, contains artificial sweeteners such as aspartame?

Tell us in the comments!