The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a clarification on the sales and marketing of milk and other dairy products like ghee, curd, paneer, etc in the name of ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ under its licence number or the registration certificate number. In this blog, we will dive into how labelling dairy products can create harm and confusion among consumers, creating a risk to brand trust and impact on dairy producers.
What is A1 and A2 milk?
Before we learn why the labels are harmful, we need to understand what the labels are and what they mean – A1 and A2 are two types of beta-casein proteins found in cow’s milk. The A1 protein is found in breeds that originated in northern Europe, while the A2 protein is more common in Indian cows. These proteins are important for building and repairing body tissues, but they have different compositions based on different breeds. Producers have labelled A2 milk to be healthier and safer than A1 milk and that it is safe for people with dairy sensitivity to drink. These labels are intended to attract health-conscious individuals and they created a lot of confusion, distrust and misinformation among the public.
What exactly are these labels?
The A1 and A2 labels on dairy products are the types of casein proteins that are found in different types of milk. These proteins exist in certain cow breeds like Holstein and Friesian and even in some Indian breeds like Indian Gir Cow. The difference between these A1 and A2 proteins is because of their variation in amino acids, which can affect how they are digested. It is said that A1 milk releases a peptide, which might make it hard to digest for some individuals. This has further led to believe that A2 milk does not release the same peptide which makes it easier on the stomach.
Why did FSSAI ban these labels?
Even though dairy producers have claimed that A2 milk is better than A1 milk, there is no research that definitively proves that A2 milk is healthier, safer or more digestible than A1 milk. The science behind the health benefits of these milk remains inconclusive. This labelling of dairy products as “A2 milk”, “grass-fed” has turned the dairy industry into a competitive market rather than being a trusted source for healthy staple food.
Therefore, the FSSAI stepped in and concluded that these A1 and A2 labels were ‘misleading’ and ‘inconsistent’ with the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. The FSSAI has directed the dairy industry to remove these labels from the existing stock within six months. The goal is to make sure that the consumer is left with no confusion or doubt regarding what each dairy product is offering. These new regulations are similar to the existing international regulations, which have also banned the dairy industry from distinguishing A1 and A2 milk based on the recent research findings.
Conclusion
The controversy related to A1 and A2 labelling on dairy products details how unregulated claims and labels can cause distrust and misinformation among consumers. Labelling dairy products as healthier without any proper scientific evidence could cause harm further impacting all smaller dairy industries.
At Pravarsha Dairies, we are dedicated to ethically sourced, high-quality dairy, and we focus on transparency and natural goodness without relying on unverified health claims. By focusing on quality and traditional methods of producing, Pravarsha Dairies provides products that are authentic.
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