FSSAI Withdraws Advisory on A1, A2 Milk Claims

August 27, 2024

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reversed its earlier advisory. This advisory had instructed food businesses to remove any references to ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ milk from their product packaging. The decision to retract this advisory was made to allow more discussions with food sector stakeholders.

Implications for Food Businesses

With the advisory withdrawn, food businesses can now continue to market and sell products that mention ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ types of milk. This means they do not have to remove these claims from their labels or stop using A1 and A2 branding.

Understanding A1 and A2 Milk

The difference between A1 and A2 milk lies in the type of beta-casein protein they contain. This protein variation is due to differences in cow breeds:

A1 Milk: Contains A1 beta-casein protein, which is found in certain breeds of cows.

A2 Milk: Contains A2 beta-casein protein, which is linked to other breeds of cows.

FSSAI’s Previous Advisory

On August 21, 2024, FSSAI issued an advisory requiring food businesses to remove any claims about A1 and A2 milk from their products and online listings. This was because current regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, did not recognize these protein differences. The earlier advisory had given food businesses six months to use up existing labels that mentioned A1 and A2 milk. This created challenges for businesses that relied on these claims for branding. With the advisory now withdrawn, the FSSAI plans to hold further discussions with industry stakeholders. These talks aim to review and possibly revise the regulations regarding A1 and A2 milk, which could lead to new guidelines and standards in the future.

About FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for regulating food safety in India. Established in 2006, it operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with its headquarters in New Delhi. FSSAI sets food safety standards, issues licenses, and conducts inspections. The organization’s logo includes a unique license number for traceability. FSSAI also runs awareness campaigns on food safety and nutrition and monitors food quality testing labs across the country.

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