Food safety regulator FSSAI on Thursday directed food companies, 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 compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
In its latest order, the FSSAI said it had examined the issue and found that the A1 and A2 differentiation is linked to the structure of beta-casein protein in milk.
However, current FSSAI regulations do not recognise this differentiation.
“FBOs are instructed to remove such claims from their products,” the regulator said, referring to food business operators.
E-commerce platforms were also ordered to remove these claims from products and websites immediately.
Companies have been given six months to sell out of the pre-printed labels, with no further extensions granted.
A1 and A2 milk differ in their beta-casein protein composition, which varies depending on the breed of cow.
The regulator stressed the strict compliance with this directive.
Welcoming the order, Parag Milk Foods Chairman Devendra Shah said the FSSAI order is a step in the right direction.
“A1 and A2 are categories developed through a marketing gimmick… It is essential that we eliminate misleading claims that can misinform consumers,” he said in a separate statement.
“The A1 or A2 dairy category never existed and globally this trend is disappearing,” he said, adding that the FSSAI’s clarification supports this broader understanding.
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