The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a significant update regarding its directive on milk labeling last week. On Monday, the FSSAI announced it was withdrawing its advisory from August 21, which had instructed dairy companies to remove references to A1 and A2 milk from their product labels. This decision follows a substantial backlash from experts and industry stakeholders, who have called for a more thorough review of the issue.
The initial advisory had deemed claims about the health benefits of A1 versus A2 milk as “misleading,” prompting the FSSAI to direct food business operators to eliminate such claims from their labels and to remove any related mentions from e-commerce platforms.
While many in the dairy industry, including the Indian Dairy Association, supported the FSSAI’s move as a step towards protecting consumers from unverified claims, the directive faced criticism from various quarters. Notably, Venugopal Badaravada, a member of the Governing Board of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), expressed strong opposition in a letter to the Prime Minister and Health Minister J.P. Nadda. Badaravada called for the formation of a high-level committee to examine the issue, advocating for a more informed and balanced approach to the regulation of A1 and A2 milk claims.
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Bharat Express plays a vital role
The Bharat Express News Network played a pivotal role in amplifying the debate on this topic. The channel’s in-depth discussion on the matter, aired at 8 pm on Saturday, drew significant attention and prompted the government to reconsider its stance. In response to the criticism and the growing demand for a comprehensive review, the FSSAI decided to withdraw its earlier directive and seek further consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The FSSAI’s decision to rescind the advisory underscores the importance of ongoing dialogue and expert input in shaping food safety regulations and ensuring that such decisions are both scientifically grounded and transparent.
