New Delhi: Experts have termed claims of superiority of dairy products—particularly milk and ghee—based on their A1 and A2 protein classifications as devoid of scientific backing. Companies selling dairy products labelled as A1 or A2, they say, are misleading consumers. Speaking to ThePrint, R.
S. Sodhi, president of the Indian Dairy Association, criticised companies for “fooling customers” and charging them two to three times more for products marketed as A2. “Milk is inherently good for health because it provides complete nutrition—protein, calcium, fat, and vitamins—but to claim one type of protein is better than the other is unfounded,” he said.
He added that at the ground level, it is challenging to determine whether milk is A2 since identifying it requires extensive genetic testing, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, he said, “Practically speaking, it is not feasible for every small company to verify if milk is A1 or A2 during regular dairy operations.” The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an advisory Wednesday, instructing all e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) to remove A1 and A2 claims from milk, ghee, butter, curd, and other dairy products.
According to it, food laws in India “do not mention/recognise any differentiation of milk on the basis of A1 and A2 types”. “Use of any A2 claims on milk fat products is misleading and not in conformance with the provisions laid down under FSS Act,.