‘Misleading, marketing gimmick’: FSSAI announces curbs on dairy products being labelled as A2
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‘Misleading, marketing gimmick’: FSSAI announces curbs on dairy products being labelled as A2
Sub: Sci
Sec: Food
Context:
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has labelled the marketing of dairy products as ‘A2’ as misleading, stating that it does not conform to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- FSSAI has directed manufacturers to stop using the ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ classifications on their products and to remove such labels. Manufacturers have six months to sell off existing inventory with pre-printed labels.
WHAT DO A1 AND A2 MEAN?
- A1 and A2 are specific proteins found in cow’s milk, though in different proportions depending on the breed of cattle.
- Casein is the most abundant protein in milk, accounting for around 80% of its protein content.
- Milk contains various types of casein, with beta-casein being the second most common. This protein exists in at least 13 different forms.
- A1 beta-casein: This is found predominantly in milk from cow breeds that originated in northern Europe, such as Holstein, Friesian, Ayrshire, and British Shorthorn.
- A2 beta-casein: This is mostly present in milk from breeds native to the Channel Islands and southern France, including Guernsey, Jersey, Charolais, and Limousin cows.
- While regular milk contains both A1 and A2 beta-casein, A2 milk is unique in that it contains only the A2 variant.
- In 2000, a milk company called a2 Corporation patented a genetic method for identifying cattle that would produce A2 milk.
- Market Impact:
- The distinction between ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ dairy products is based on the structure of a protein called beta casein, but FSSAI suggests this difference does not justify the marketing claims.
- Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a peptide released in the stomach during the digestion of A1 beta-casein. This is the reason some people believe that regular milk is less healthy than A2 milk.
- Despite the FSSAI’s clarification, ghee labelled as ‘A2’ is widely available in the market, often at significantly higher prices, ranging from Rs 999 to Rs 2,790 per litre or kilogram.
International Perspectives:
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific review in 2009, stating there is no need to differentiate between ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ milk.
- The concept of ‘A2’ milk began with New Zealand’s a2 Corporation, but even the New Zealand Food Safety Authority emphasized that more research, particularly human trials, is needed to confirm any significant health differences between ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ milk.
Source: DTE