India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority on Thursday directed food companies, including e-commerce platforms, to remove “A1” and “A2” from milk and milk product packaging as these labels are considered misleading.

The FSSAI guideline follows a review which found that the distinction between A1 and A2 refers to the type of beta-casein protein in milk. However, this classification is not recognised in current FSSAI regulations.

The authority stressed that food companies must remove this information from their products. E-commerce websites are also obliged to immediately remove this information from their offers.

The directive gives companies six months to use up existing pre-printed labels. An extension of this period is not permitted.

The distinction between A1 and A2 milk is based on differences in beta-casein protein associated with different cow breeds.

The regulator attached great importance to strict compliance with this directive.

Welcoming the order, Devendra Shah, Chairman, Parag Milk Foods, said the FSSAI order was a step in the right direction.

“A1 and A2 are the categories developed through marketing tricks. … It is critical that we eliminate misleading claims that can misinform consumers,” he said in a separate statement.

The A1 or A2 dairy product category never existed and globally this trend is fading, he said, adding that the FSSAI’s clarification supports this broader understanding. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Thursday directed food companies, including e-commerce platforms, to remove the “A1” and “A2” claims from milk and milk product packaging as it found such labels misleading.

The FSSAI guideline follows a review which found that the distinction between A1 and A2 refers to the type of beta-casein protein in milk. However, this classification is not recognised in current FSSAI regulations.

The authority stressed that food companies must remove this information from their products. E-commerce websites are also obliged to immediately remove this information from their offers.

The directive gives companies six months to use up existing pre-printed labels. An extension of this period is not permitted.

The distinction between A1 and A2 milk is based on differences in beta-casein protein associated with different cow breeds.

The regulator attached great importance to strict compliance with this directive.

Welcoming the order, Devendra Shah, Chairman, Parag Milk Foods, said the FSSAI order was a step in the right direction.

“A1 and A2 are the categories developed through marketing tricks. … It is critical that we eliminate misleading claims that can misinform consumers,” he said in a separate statement.

The dairy product category A1 or A2 never existed and globally too, this trend is declining, he said, adding that the FSSAI clarification supports this broader understanding.

(With inputs from PTI)