FSSAI takes a U-turn on its own decision, milk will continue to be sold with A1 and A2 labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has withdrawn its order given recently. FSSAI had banned the sale of dairy products claiming A-1 and A-2 milk. Now the order has been withdrawn. FSSAI has issued a clarification. It is said that the businessmen and stakeholders of the dairy industry will be talked to on this issue. A decision will be taken after this. Till then FSSAI withdraws its old order issued in this regard.

On the 21st of this month, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) declared the claims being made in the name of A-1 and A-2 in milk and milk products as a violation of the Food Safety Standards Act. It had directed to remove these. In the earlier order, the companies were asked to immediately remove the claims of A-1 and A-2 from their products.

The U-turn by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India would mean that sales of A-1 and A-2 milk with such claims will continue. The structure of beta-casein protein in A-1 and A-2 milk is different. On August 21, FSSAI asked FBOs to remove these claims from their products. E-commerce platforms were also asked to immediately remove these claims from products and websites.

FSSAI had said that the claims of A-1 and A-2 varieties of milk and milk products are not by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India found in its investigation that the difference between A-1 and A-2 is related to the structure of beta-casein protein in milk, while FSSAI rules do not recognize this difference.