FSSAI Drafts Standards for Milk and Whey Protein Concentrates and Colostrum

The FSSAI has issued a notification regarding draft standards of Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Concentrate and Colostrum and Colostrum Products. These amendments have been made in the principal Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 which is the primary regulator. The amendments relate to regulation DAIRY PRODUCTS AND ANALOGUES (2.1).

The FSSAI has also invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed amendments which are to reach the FSSAI by 4 April 2018.  The standards in the proposed Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2018 specify product definitions, compositional and quality parameters as well as specific additives and labeling requirements for the products covered under these regulations.

These draft standards shall be reviewed based on the comments received from stakeholders and revised, if necessary. The revised standards will be notified for implementation within a period of six months.

Milk Protein Concentrates (2.1.21)

Description

Milk Protein Concentrates are defined as complex milk proteins that contain both casein and whey protein, in their native form and in the same or similar ratio as milk. Milk protein concentrate products are designated as MPC 40, MPC 70, MPC 80, MPC 85 and MPC 90 depending upon their milk protein contents. Milk protein concentrates are generally manufactured by filtration processes (micro filtration, ultra filtration, and diafiltration) and membrane separation technologies that remove the majority of lactose and soluble minerals while retaining the milk protein, followed by spray-drying.

Essential Composition and Quality Factors

• Raw Materials – Milk, skimmed milk
• Composition – The product shall conform to the compositional specifications provided in the table below

* Protein content is 6.38 multiplied by the total nitrogen determined

• Food Additives- For products covered under this standard, antioxidants and anti-caking agents specified in Appendix ‘A’ of these regulations may be used and only within the limits specified.
• Labeling – In addition to the provisions laid under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, the percent value of protein shall be declared on the label of the package.

Whey Protein Concentrate (2.1.22)

Description

Whey Protein Concentrate means a white to the light cream-colored product with a bland, clean flavor obtained by removing non-protein constituents from whey by means of physical separation techniques such as precipitation, filtration, dialysis, and other relevant techniques.

Essential Composition and Quality Factors

• Raw Materials – Whey
• Composition – The product shall conform to the compositional specifications provided in the table below

* Protein content is 6.38 multiplied by the total nitrogen determined

• Food Additives – For products covered under this standard, antioxidants and anti-caking agents specified in Appendix ‘A’ of these regulations may be used and only within the limits specified.
• Labeling – In addition to the provisions laid under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, the percent value of protein shall be declared on the label of the package.

The standard for Colostrum and Colostrum Products (2.1.23)

Description

• “Colostrum” means the lacteal secretion from the mammary glands of cow or buffalo or a combination thereof obtained up to three to five days of parturition and preceding the production of milk, which typically contains fat, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and bioactive components (such as immunoglobulins and lactoferrin).
• “Colostrum based products” means processed products resulting from the processing of colostrum or from further processing of such processed products.
• “Colostrum Powder” is a colostrum-based product obtained by the drying of colostrum by suitable methods while retaining the essential characteristics of colostrum.

Essential composition and quality factors

Colostrum Composition – The products shall conform to the compositional specifications provided in the table below

Colostrum powder

Raw Materials – Bovine Colostrum

Composition – The products shall conform to the compositional specifications provided in the table below

Food Additives

Colostrum shall not contain any food additives.

For colostrum powder, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and antioxidants as specified for milk powder in Appendix ‘A’ of these regulations, may be used and only within the limits specified.

Hygiene

The product shall conform to the microbiological requirements specified for milk powder in Appendix B of these regulations.

Labeling

In addition to the provisions laid under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011, the following shall apply:

• The name of the products covered by “colostrum” will be labeled colostrum.
• The name of the products covered by “colostrum powder” will be labeled colostrum powder.

(These standards should be read along with sub-regulation 2.1.1 relating to General Standard for Milk and Milk Products with reference to the generic provisions pertaining to definitions of milk or milk products and heat treatments, guidelines for use of dairy terms, the addition of micronutrients, etc.)