FSSAI Cracks Down On 'Misleading' Milk Labels, Orders Food Businesses, E-Commerce Players To Remove A1 And A2 Claims

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday (22 August) issued a directive to food businesses, including e-commerce platforms, to remove 'A1' and 'A2' milk and milk product claims from packaging, deeming these labels "misleading".

FSSAI said that these claims are not in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

In its latest order, the food safety regulator said that it had examined the issue and found that Al and A2 differentiation of milk is essentially linked to difference in structure of protein (beta casein).

"Hence, use of any A2 claims on milk fat products is misleading and not in conformance with the provisions laid down under FSS Act, 2006...," the FSSAI order said.

"FBOs are instructed to remove such claims from their products," the regulator said, referring to food business operators.

Additionally, e-commerce platforms were directed to immediately remove these claims from their products and websites.

Companies have been granted a six-month period to exhaust existing pre-printed labels, with no further extensions permitted.

The differentiation between A1 and A2 milk stems from variations in beta-casein protein composition, which varies based on the breed of the cow.

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