FSSAI orders removal of A1, A2 milk claims from products

Delhi Delhi. Food safety regulator FSSAI on Thursday directed food businesses, including e-commerce companies, to remove claims of ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ types of milk and milk products from packaging, terming such labelling as misleading.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said these claims are not in conformity with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.In its latest order, FSSAI said it has examined the issue and found that the differentiation of A1 and A2 is linked to the structure of beta-casein protein in milk.However, citing existing food business operators, the regulator said, “FBOs have been directed to remove such claims from their products.”E-commerce platforms have also been asked to immediately remove these claims from products and websites.Companies have been given six months to eliminate pre-printed labels, with no further extension.A1 and A2 milk have differences in beta-casein protein structure, which varies depending on the breed of cow. The regulator stressed strict compliance with the directive. Welcoming the order, Devendra Shah, chairman of Parag Milk Foods, said the FSSAI order was a step in the right direction. “A1 and A2 is a category developed by marketing gimmicks. …It is important that we eliminate misleading claims that may misinform consumers,” he said in a separate statement. He said the A1 or A2 milk product category never existed and the trend is dying out globally as well, and added that FSSAI’s clarification supports this broad understanding.