FSSAI Discards A2 Milk Claims, Asks Food Business Operators To Remove It from Product Description
Moneylife Digital Team 23 August 2024
Amidst the hot debate on milk and milk products aggressively marketed by several food business operators (FBOs) in the name of A1 and A2, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) clarified that any such claims on milk fat products are misleading. It also directed FBOs to remove these claims from their products. 
 
In a clarification, FSSAI says, "...it may be noted that the matter has been examined by FSSAI and it is opined that A1 and A2 differentiation of milk is essentially linked to the difference in structure of the protein (beta-casein). Hence, use of any A2 claims on milk fat products is misleading and not in conformance with the provisions led down under FSS Act and Regulations made thereunder."
 
"Further, standards of milk as specified in Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, do not mention or recognise any differentiation of milk on the basis of A1 and A2," it added.
 
FSSAI has also asked e-commerce FBOs to immediately remove all such claims related to A1 and A2 proteins from their websites. "Further the concerned FBOs shall ensure strict compliance of the same with effect from the data of issuance of this direction. Although the FBOs are permitted to exhaust the available pre-printed labels within six months from the date of issuance of this direction no further extension and timeline will be granted to any FBO," FSSAI says.
 
RS Sodhi, former managing director (MD) of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF -Amul) and president of the Indian Dairy Association RS Sodhi termed the FSSAI notification a landmark. In a post on X, he says, "Food and dairy companies are not allowed to claim A1 or A2 on milk or products. This is a landmark notification by the @fssaiindia to protect consumers from unscientific claims by food/ dairy companies regarding the superiority of A2 milk, ghee, or products over A1 milk and products."
 
Nikhil Chitale, partner of Pune's famous Chitale Dairy, has been raising serious questions about the marketing of milk products labelled with A2 claims. In one post, he says, "Utterly rubbish claims. Nothing to support other than some random influencers promoting it. Europeans predominantly drink A1 milk. Has life expectancy fallen in Europe vs the rest of the world?"
 
In another post on X, he says, "I just saw an ad promoting A2 Ghee. A2 GHEE? At five times the usual price? What kind of nonsense is this? A1 and A2 are proteins, but ghee is 99.5% to 99.7% fat and moisture with no protein—neither A1 nor A2. Don't fall for these scams."
 
 
Responding to a query on X that ghee may not contain any A2, but it contains medicinal qualities because of A2 in the milk, Mr Chitale says, "There is no proven medicinal benefit. Many other breeds' milk (including jersey) have A2 protein but does not go with the narrative. The remaining % is moisture."
 
 
According to Mr Chitale, there is also a geo-economics angle (for marketing A2 milk products). "Down under countries produce a lot but consumption is low. They berated other breeds across the globe so they can export more than ever before. They predominantly have A2."
 

 

Comments
Razia Khan
4 months ago
Dear Money Life foundation team,

This is just feedback not related to this post but for Challenges in Transmission of Assets event that is scheduled on August 28, 2024, it will be better if PDF copy are made available before event so that audience can read it and prepare their questions that they want clarifications on or they may even offer good suggestions?

Instead of launching report it should be discussion on report that should be made available 1 week before event.

This is just suggestions, I don't know how to approach directly.
impaddi
4 months ago
Interestingly nobody have any objections when pure sugar products being sold as health drinks / nutritive foods and that too at very steep prices!! Regulator functioning (FSSAI etc) are designed for the benifit of few business.
bsghale1963
4 months ago
Most ghee is adulterated, buy raw butter and make your own ghee to be sure ghee.
nraj126
4 months ago
I see encouraging Desi Ghee from single or multiple breed of Desi Cows helps small cattle Farmers from villages. Traditionally processed Ghee is far better than packaged Ghees from jersey cows.

Eg:

1. Ghee from the milk of Malenadu Gidda, Hallikar, etc., will be certainly expensive and of high quality

2. Ghee from collective milk of Desi Cows in general are almost 40% less than the above but expensive than the packaged branded ghee

Unadulterated Desi Ghee is very important for consumption. We can easily make out the difference. Pure & Unadulterated Food Products are critical amidst factory products, even to help small cattle Farmers.
s5rwav
4 months ago
Empowered Home Secretary to Govt of India, in Larger Public Interest to Curb Corrupt Practice and Crime against Customers to Mint Undue Profit, Must Prosecute Fast these Ghee Marketers in Courts for Cheating and Criminal Conspiracy as also under Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2018.
parimalshah1
4 months ago
These business houses should be prosecuted and not served notice and instructions. Violations must be dealt with iron hands if we want credibility to be established. If not, many MNC will do business with such false claims to cheat ignorant or illiterate people.
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