After a nationwide vote, a new cartoon character helping to build awareness of the advantages of real dairy foods has a name: DairyUS, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced today at its annual meeting in Phoenix. The animated character, modeled after the iconic REAL Seal logo, will help a new generation of consumers distinguish between genuine U.S. dairy products and a growing list of imitations. NMPF designed the cartoon character after assuming management of the seal last year.

The new animated icon is part of an effort to revitalize the seal, which was created in the 1970s and is already used on more than 10,000 food products. NMPF asked the public to suggest names for the character last summer, using the seal's website and Facebook page. Three finalists were selected from among more than 100 names submitted. An online vote was held from mid-September through Election Day, Nov. 5.

In all, nearly 800 votes were cast. DairyUS, suggested by a woman in Clermont, Iowa, received 379 votes. The runner-up, Milkdrop, received 343 votes, while the third finalist, Roscow, received 74 votes.

“DairyUS will help both kids and adults learn about foods made with real dairy products,” said NMPF Chief Operating Officer Jim Mulhern. “The REAL Seal not only means a product is a real dairy product, but that it is made with milk from cows on U.S. dairy farms and without imported, imitation or substitute ingredients.”

The cartoon character is just one of a number of innovations NMPF has made to promote the seal on the Internet and through social media. Until recently, for example, the website was targeted mostly to companies interested in using the seal on their products. Today, the group says, it is focused on consumers. PD

—From National Milk Producers Foundation news release

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Photo courtesy of NMPF.