FSSAI Against Plant-Based Milks' Classification As Milk, Invites Public Opinion

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)  has published a draft notification (in Hindi & English) on 21 July 2020 which classifies plant-milk as analogue: an imitation product designed or structed to mimic or offered with non-dairy substitutes as an alternate to animal milk and its products. The draft notifications also prohibits the use of dairy terms that are phonetically similar or have a similar spelling in the nomenclature of the non-dairy product. Simply put, FSSAI does not want to share the word 'milk' with the country's plant-based milk producers. Furthermore,  such products would need to have a label that says: THIS IS NOT A DAIRY PRODUCT.

Similar regulations in other countries raked up massive controversies and debates between vegans and the dairy industry. Terms like 'extract' or 'beverage' were recommeneded to be used in place of 'milk' for almond, soy, oat milk etc. 

The dairy industry is struggling to generate revenue from its value-added products such as ice-creams, flavoured milk, cheese and yogurt, which account for more than 30% of the industry's revenue. A Crisil Ratings report expects this category to register a 2-3% degrowth in 2020-21, due to the pandemic. Several new plant-based businnesses are sprouting up each day as more and more consumers are opting for plant based milks. 

However it's important to note that hybrid terms like peanut 'butter', coconut 'milk', have been in use for over decades. THere has been no confusion with these nomenclatures in the consumer's mind. They not only generate more variety for the consumer but increase transparency as well. 

Plant based milks and meats don't enjoy any government subsides. The draft notification could be counter-productive in efforts to create a fair market for plant-based products.

VeganFirst urges its readers to submit their opinions to this Amendment to FSSAI. Objections may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or may be sent by e-mail at regulation@fssai.gov.in  until 21 September 2020.

You can also submit opinions for the notification to FSSAI via FIAPO's website by clicking here.

Trivia:  The word 'milk' had a second definition for 'the white juice of certain plants' in the first edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language published in 1828.

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