Some time back, a draft of certain rules to further amend the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) had been presented in a notification brought out by the ministry of health and family welfare. It included the proposal to substitute the words `vegetable fat-based ice cream or non-dairy ice cream' for the words `frozen dessert' in clause (a) of PFA rule 29.

The industry has been given time till June 17, to come up with any objection or suggestion regarding the proposal so that the arguments could be considered by the Centre and the Central Committee for Food Standards.

Varied objections and suggestions from various quarters have already started pouring in at theministry.

According to the sources, Mother Dairy ice cream is basing its objections on the fact that a large number of consumers are not educated enough to differentiate between similar sounding names as in the case of ice cream and non-dairy ice cream. It could lead to a case of cheating as the non-discerning consumer would have a product made out of edible oil thinking that it contained milk cream.

Speaking to The Financial Express, president, Indian Dairy Association, Animesh Banerjee said that it was a fact that natural had an edge over artificial and care should be taken to ensure that people do not confuse one with the other. Banerjee said that as butter made out of edible oil had a different name and was called margarine, the same logic should be applied in the case of ice cream and a distinguishable name should be given to desserts not made of milk cream.

In the US, vegetable fat-based desserts are called mellorine. A strong opinion has emerged in the industry that a similar name shouldbe given to products in the country too.

Frozen dessert manufacturers have a distinct cost advantage over ice cream manufacturers, said Banerjee. "Milk cream is almost thrice as costly as vegetable oil. If desserts made of both cream and edible oil attack the market with the same name it would not only be disadvantageous to ice cream manufacturers but also amount to cheating the customers," he added.

Another fear among manufacturers is that once the proposal is implemented a lot of people might start viewing the manufacture of edible oil-based dessert as a cheap alternative to ice-cream manufacture and enter the line.

A group of manufacturers have suggested to the IDA that if the government was keen on giving recognition to edible oil-based desserts on the ground that this was happening internationally, it should also insist that the industry followed international standards. Specifications should be drawn which should include the fortification of Vitamin A, calcium and other important ingredients inthe product. As a controversy of sorts has surrounded the issue, it seems that it would take a while before the government passed its judgement.