FSSAI Orders Milk Brands to Remove A1, A2 Claims from Packaging

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) instructs food businesses to eliminate A1 and A2 claims from milk product packaging. The directive aims to halt misleading information under FSS Act, 2006. Compliance is mandated immediately, with a six-month allowance for existing labels.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that all food businesses, including e-commerce platforms, eliminate claims of A1 and A2 types from the packaging of milk and milk products. According to an FSSAI release, using any A2 claims on milk fat products is both misleading and a violation of the provisions outlined in the FSS Act, 2006, and its associated regulations.

The FSSAI noted that numerous Food Business Operators (FBOs) are marketing milk and milk products such as ghee, butter, and curd under A1 and A2 classifications, displaying the FSSAI license and Registration Certificate numbers on their products. The regulatory body emphasized that the standards for milk, as specified in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, do not recognize any differentiation of milk based on A1 and A2 types.

'The FBOs are instructed to remove such claims from their products,' the FSSAI stated. 'E-commerce FBOs are instructed to remove all claims related to A1 and A2 proteins from their websites immediately. Further, the concerned FBOs shall ensure strict compliance with this direction from the date of issuance,' the release dated August 21 mentioned. The document further stated that while FBOs are allowed to use their existing pre-printed labels within six months from the directive's issue date, no further extensions will be granted.

(With inputs from agencies.)