The Delhi high court has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to act on the plea
A petition filed by the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) says that there are many businesses who have been misbranding and mislabelling their plant-based food or beverages extracted from soya, almond, and oats etc., as milk and other dairy items such as curd, paneer, and yoghurt.
The Delhi high court has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to act on a plea by the NCDFI, alleging misbranding and mislabelling of plant-based products as milk products.
Operating as the apex body of the cooperative dairy industry, NCDFI said that its members (about 17,216,000), are engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of milk and dairy products. They also include milk product giant Amul India.
The petition said as per the statutory scheme of the Food Safety Act, 2006, and its allied regulations, plant-based extracts/foods must not be classified as “milk” or any other dairy item as these do not qualify as milk, milk product or composite milk product.
A food is considered “misbranded” if it does not adhere to an expansive list of labeling requirements and norms which are focused on ensuring consumers are presented with clear and accurate product information.
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, says, “Of course the plant-based products have their benefits but this is an issue of consumer health and protection, and product confusion has nutritional complications. Being the apex food regulatory body of India, we can rest assured that FSSAI will come up with the right measures to ensure consumer safety pertaining to these products.”
