The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed companies to stop using labels such as A1 and A2 on dairy products such as milk, ghee, butter and curd, as doing so is “misleading”.

The FSSAI statement said, “It has come to the notice of FSSAI that many food business operators (FBOs) are selling/marketing milk and milk products such as ghee, butter, curd etc. under FSSAI licence No. A1 and A2.”

India’s food regulatory body noted that selling milk fat products with A2 claim is not only misleading but also “not in conformity with the provisions prescribed under the FSS Act, 2006 and rules made thereunder.”

FSSAI clarified that the difference between A1 and A2 milk is based only on the structure of a protein called beta-casein, which may confuse consumers. Also, companies should remove such claims from their products.

“E-commerce FBOs are directed to immediately remove all claims relating to A1 and A2 proteins from their websites. Further, the concerned FBOs shall ensure strict compliance with this direction from the date of its issuance,” the regulatory body said.

FSSAI has given companies 6 months to phase out their existing products that have A1 and A2 labels. After that, products should not have such claims along with the FSSAI license number.

RS Sodhi, president, Indian Dairy Association (IDA), said this is a historic notification by FSSAI to “protect consumers from unscientific claims of food and dairy companies”.

What does A1 and A2 mean?

Many milk products in the market are sold with A1 and A2 labels, giving rise to a debate over what it means to consume an A1 or A2 milk product, be it ghee, milk or curd.

A1 and A2 are specific proteins found in cow’s milk, although their proportions vary depending on the breed of cattle.

According to Healthline, some studies suggest that A2 cows may be healthier, but research is ongoing. However, the health effects depend on the breed of cow.

Casein is the most abundant protein in milk, accounting for about 80% of its protein content.

There are different types of casein found in milk, with beta-casein being the second most common protein. This protein is found in at least 13 different forms.

It has two primary forms:

A1 Beta-Casein: It is found primarily in the milk of cow breeds originating in northern Europe, such as the Holstein, Friesian, Ayrshire, and British Shorthorn.

A2 Beta-Casein: It is present primarily in the milk of breeds native to the Channel Islands and southern France, including Guernsey, Jersey, Charolais, and Limousin cows.

While normal milk contains both A1 and A2 beta-casein, A2 milk is unique in that it only contains the A2 type.

In the year 2000, a milk company called a2 Corporation patented a genetic method for identifying A2 milk cattle.

In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority published a comprehensive 107-page scientific review concluding that there was no need to differentiate between A1 and A2 milk.

In New Zealand, where the a2 Corporation was founded, the government’s food safety summary for A1 and A2 milk stated: “Further research, particularly human trials, is needed before it can be stated with confidence that the A1/A2 composition of milk is of significance for human health.”

Does it have any health benefits?

According to some studies, A2 may be healthier than A1, but its effects vary on people.

A study conducted on Chinese adults who complained of milk intolerance found that while drinking regular milk caused them stomach discomfort, no such symptoms were observed after drinking A2 milk.

Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a peptide released in the stomach during the digestion of A1 beta-casein. This is why some people believe that regular milk is less healthy than A2 milk.

Some research groups suggest that BCM-7 may be linked to type 1 diabetes, heart disease, infant mortality, autism, and digestive problems. However, research is still ongoing.

In 2005, independent researcher Stewart Truswell published an investigation of A1 and A2 in the journal Nature. He found that there was “no strong or probable evidence” that the A1 beta-casein protein in cow’s milk causes type 1 diabetes or heart disease.

But Devendra Shah, chairman of Parag Milk Foods, called A1 and A2 a “marketing gimmick”.

“A1 and A2 are categories that have been developed as a marketing gimmick. It is important that we eliminate misleading claims that may misinform consumers,” he told news agency PTI.

Shah further added that A1 and A2 milk product categories never actually existed and the trend is on the decline globally, lending credence to FSSAI’s clarification on the matter.