The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has issued a clarification to all e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) regarding the marketing and sale of milk and milk products, such as ghee and butter, labeled as “A1” and “A2.”
The FSSAI has observed that several FBOs are selling and marketing milk and milk products under the A1 and A2 labels using FSSAI License Numbers or Registration Certificate Numbers.
“There is a differentiation between A1 and A2 milk that pertains to a structural variation in the protein (beta-casein) found in milk. The use of A2 claims on milk fat products, such as ghee and butter, is considered misleading and does not comply with the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, and the regulations established under this Act,” FSSAI said in a notification.
Additionally, the FSSAI has clarified that the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, do not recognise or specify any differentiation between A1 and A2 types of milk.
In light of this, FSSAI has directed all FBOs to remove any such claims from their product labeling. E-commerce FBOs, in particular, are instructed to immediately remove all references to A1 and A2 proteins from their websites.
Furthermore, the FBOs are required to ensure strict compliance with this directive from the date of its issuance. However, they are allowed to exhaust any pre-printed labels with such claims within six months of this notice. No extensions or additional timelines will be granted for compliance, according to the notification.
