FSSAI Withdraws Advisory on A2 Milk Products within 5 Days!
Moneylife Digital Team 30 August 2024
After directing food business operators (FBOs) to remove claims of 'A1' and 'A2' types of milk and milk products from packaging, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) took a U-turn within five days. 
                                    
In an order, FSSAI says, "This is to inform that the advisory dated 21 August 2024 issued with respect to clarification, regarding selling and marketing of milk and milk products such as ghee, milk in the name of A1 and A2, stands withdrawn for further consultation and engagement with the stakeholders."
 
In its 21st August clarification, FSSAI had asked FBOs to remove these claims from their products. "...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. (Read: FSSAI Discards A2 Milk Claims, Asks Food Business Operators To Remove It from Product Description)
 
The move by FSSAI to bar the marketing of milk products in the name of A2 was welcomed by the dairy industry. RS Sodhi, former managing director (MD) of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF -Amul) and president of the Indian Dairy Association, 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."
 
Commenting on FSSAI's withdrawal of its directions, Mr Sodhi says, "So confusion continues for the consumers for some more time."
 
Nikhil Chitale, partner of Pune's famous Chitale Dairy, has been raising serious questions about marketing milk products labelled with A2 claims. 
 
In a 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."
 
Comments
ROSHAN SHAHANI
1 month ago
Thanks Moneylife for your vigilance and creating an awareness about A2 labelling of milk ghee etc. Also I endorse iaminnprabhu’s views and the others for exposing FSSAI and the misleading and fraudulent business tactics of milk producers.
r_ashok41
1 month ago
what happened FSSAI.First of all the organisation has been sleeping all these years when the world was full of activities and suddenly one fine day wakes up and issues a stupid note on A1 andA2 without knowing the alphabets well and issues a statement without doing homework and then takes back the same.Great and at least FSSAI woke up from their sleep.Keep up the good work.Even if you do not work it is ok but working wrongly sends wrong signals
parimalshah1
1 month ago
Public knows why. Cash or kind must have changed hands. Or pressure from top because of the same. Looks like all regulators are busy filling their own pockets. Let the citizens and the consumers be at the mercy of unethical business houses. Who cares?
iaminprabhu
1 month ago
FSSAI itself is a big JOKE, after this U-TURN and doubt if it really works fir benefits of Consumers !?
Examples like,
-A1 A2 Milk
-Spices Samples FAILED testing, dies nit deckare the BRANDS or Products
-FoPL (Front of Panel Labeling) of HIGH SUGAR, High SALT, HIGH FAT decisions deferred since almost a DECADE

WHEN will our INDIAN AUTHORITIES work to benefit Consumers FIRST (& not the Businesses Industry ?)
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