Caution: Not all labels are trustworthy! Before you lose sleep over the rise of milk prices, there’s another nightmare taking a destructive shape. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in August 2024 issued a shocking directive to remove a1 and a2 types of milk labels.
E-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon are also ordered by the body to remove them. In the earlier claim, FSSAI itself announced the ban of a1 and a2 labels of milk, yogurt, and ghee products in India.
Now, the biggest controversy lies in FSSAI taking a step back!
Factors suspecting FSSAI’s move on the a1 and a2 milk labels
The 6-month deadline given by FSSAI to the milk operators to remove a1 and a2 labels seems to be a hidden picture. Before making the final call, FSSAI is informed to discuss it with industry bodies, experts, and stakeholders.
Despite the a2 misleading claims reported to be violating ‘The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006’, FSSAI had to shut the media coverage.
The 3 things that are still in the loop to be investigated are:
- Why FSSAI didn’t establish scientific panels initially as per section 13?
- Despite allegations, what made the prosecution flip from charging these brands using misinformation labels under section 80?
- Even though the Food Authority of India under section 92 is authorized to make regulations, why was the withdrawal made?
Under No.18 (1) 2018/FSSAI Complaints, the Regulatory Compliance Division received several misleading claims from Twitter and Facebook on milk license scams. Well, the reason behind this move is still under scrutiny by the dairy authorities in top management.
The quality of dairy products in India is a big concern now!
a1 milk v/s a2 milk: Which is the best type of milk?
The debate stems from the casein composition that forms the protein structure of the milk.
The production of beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) in a1 milk, on breaking down, releases Histidine. You won’t believe it causes allergic reactions like cough, asthma, and dermatitis. Also, it produces morphine that impacts the cognitive system. However, a1 milk is produced from all the cows while a2 milk is obtained from buffaloes, sheep camels, etc.
Many biotechnologists and dairy agriculturists reviewed that a1 milk is hazardous, while a2 milk is only better if cross-breeding is avoided. National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in a survey involving 22 Indian breeds claimed a majority of Indian cattle have an a2-a2 genotype. It also reports that our Indian cows produce a2 milk then.
To learn more on a2 milk, read https://dollons.com/blog/a2-organic-milk-answer-for-your-anxiety-depression/
Thus, the Indian food law is found to be under-constructed. It’s suspected that the FSSAI regulations protect some brands by withdrawing claims over a1 and a2 milk labels.
Despite gaps in quality checking of milk labels, Dollons operates efficiently as an ISO-certified dairy processing plant in West Bengal.
