Are Tomatoes a Fruit? Corn a Grain? Food Classification Fights That Never End

Want a brain teaser? Have you ever stopped to think about food classification? Is it accurate? Consider this: Should tomatoes be shelved with fruit in the produce section? Will supermarkets be moving cereal to the canned soup aisle? Find out where things stand in these heated debates about food classification.

Do milk alternatives count as dairy?

Non-dairy alternatives like almond milk or soy milk have been gaining popularity in recent years due to dietary preferences and the desire to avoid animal-based products. The debate is whether these alternatives should still be classified as dairy products — they have milk in their name but differ nutritionally from traditional cow’s milk.

According to the U.S. government’s ideas on food classification, they should not be called milk at all. In 2023, here’s what the FDA had to say about this topic:

“Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), “non-standardized foods” must be labeled using the common or usual name, which can be established through regulation or common usage. The draft guidance states that although there is no established standard of identity for plant-based milk products, some common and usual names have been established by common usage for such products such as “soy milk” and “almond milk”. FDA states that names that include the terms “beverage” or “drink” are also common usage although used less frequently.

Additionally, in the names of plant-based milk products, the term “milk”, “beverage”, or “drink” should be qualified by the plant source of the food. Simply including “plant-based” or “plant” would not satisfy the identification of the plant source and should only be used in conjunction with plant source qualifiers.”

Health Law Advisor

While some guidelines include fortified plant-based beverages in the dairy group, the controversy remains on whether this classification is accurate and if non-dairy alternatives should be allowed to have milk in their names.

Is a breakfast sandwich still a breakfast sandwich if eaten for dinner?

The typical breakfast sandwich consists of cheese, eggs and meat between two slices of bread. The question here is: Does it stop being a breakfast sandwich if it’s eaten for dinner?

Some argue that combining specific breakfast-associated ingredients as a filling makes it a breakfast food with its distinct category. Others believe it’s just a sandwich if eaten later in the day. The timing of consumption remains a point of contention for breakfast sandwiches.

You know what my family says? We love eating breakfast for dinner and will fight for our right to call breakfast dinner, even if it involves eating a breakfast sandwich at dinnertime.

Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable?

Tomatoes have long been experiencing an identity crisis and everyone seems to have differing opinions about whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. Botanically, they are classified as fruits because they have seeds and grow from plant flowers.

However, most people do not think of tomatoes as a typical fruit. That’s because they are more savory than sweet and pair with other vegetables when making things like salads, sauces and sides.

Is cereal a soup?  

Imagine you’re walking down the soup aisle at a grocery store only to find cereal boxes on the same shelf as soup. Technically, cereal has solid ingredients. Then, you serve it with hot or cold milk. That is why some argue that it is classified as soup. Crazy, I know.

Others find this to be diabolical as traditional soups are usually savory and cooked with its liquid. However, if you think about how you cook hot oatmeal, you can see the argument for labeling cereal a soup. Nonetheless, grocery stores refuse to consider cereal as a type of soup. So, where do you stand? Should we keep cereal in the breakfast aisle or move it to the soup family?

Is an ice cream sandwich really a sandwich?

When you think of sandwiches, a savory BLT or a chicken sandwich probably comes to mind rather than a dessert. This is why the question of whether ice cream sandwiches belong in the sandwich food classification sparks a lively debate.

Ice cream sandwiches can take different forms, with ice cream placed between two wafers, cookies or biscuits. According to the traditional definition of a sandwich, it is anything with a filling between two slices of bread. Ice cream sandwiches may not strictly fit the description. Why? Because you don’t make ice cream sandwiches with regular bread.

However, some argue that the structure of an ice cream sandwich is similar to a traditional sandwich. It’s kind of like whoopie pies in Maine. They’re just like ice cream sandwiches but we don’t call them a sandwich. But should we?

Is corn classified as a vegetable, grain or fruit?

When is corn a grain? When you harvest and dry it. However, botanically, like tomatoes, corn is classified as a fruit because it has seeds and develops from the flower of a plant. I guess you could say the same about squash, eggplant and pumpkins, too.

The issue arises because the culinary world perceives corn as a vegetable. With the potential to be in three different food groups, it seems like you cannot confine corn to just one classification. Corn truly is unique. That’s because both how you harvest and eat corn affects its classification.

On the other hand, you can turn corn into a grain when you make cornmeal or corn tortillas. So I can definitely see the argument for both sides.

Should protein bread have its own category?

Nowadays, there are alternatives available for just about anything you want as brands respond to the growing interest in healthy eating. Protein bread is one instance that has made a name for itself for being a high-protein alternative to traditional bread. Due to the different nutritional content, the question arises whether protein bread should be categorized as traditional bread or a specialized health product.

Since protein bread is made of the same base ingredients as traditional bread — flour, yeast, water — and is used similarly, it makes sense for it to remain in the same category as normal bread. However, its nutritional makeup differs significantly due to the addition of whey, soy or pea protein, which can also change its texture and taste.

Companies that make protein bread market it to athletes, people with dietary restrictions or health-conscious shoppers. On the other hand, the general public generally shops for traditional bread. Considering these differences, displaying protein bread in the health products aisle rather than the bakery section may make the most sense.

Honestly, who would know to look for it there? My guess is if you are shopping for protein powder and saw loaves of protein bread right there next to the protein powder, it would all make sense. But otherwise this placement might leave shoppers and stock people scratching their heads.

This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.