  We present a study on the applicability of transverse mass scaling for
identified particle spectra in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV
based on data taken by the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The measured yields are
parametrized and compared to estimates obtained from a generalized transverse
mass scaling approach applied to different reference particle spectra. It is
found that generalized transverse mass scaling is not able to describe the
measured spectra over the full range in transverse momentum. At low $p_{\rm
T}$, deviations of $20$% or more are obtained, in particular if pions are used
as reference particles. A better scaling performance is obtained, when kaons
are used as reference particles. At high $p_{\rm T}$ all tested spectra with
the possible exception of the charged kaons exhibit a scaling behavior.
Investigating the feed-down contributions from resonance decays to the charged
pion yields reveals, that using them as reference a general scaling may not be
achievable. Our findings imply that for precision measurements of direct photon
and di-electron spectra at low transverse momentum one should measure the
relevant hadronic background, instead of relying on $m_{\rm T}$ scaling for its
estimate.
