FSSAI has been receiving requests from several quarters about including camel milk in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2011. Two important bodies that have sent requests are the National Research Centre on Camel and the Government of Gujarat. Therefore FSSAI framed standards for fat content in camel milk on the recommendations of the Task Force on Milk and Milk Products. The draft notification specifying the minimum content of Milk Fat and Milk Solids- non-fat (SNF) was fixed 3.0% and 6.5% respectively and the same had become operationalized all over India in November 2016 to facilitate marketing of camel milk.
However, after consultation with stakeholders, the content of Milk Fat and SNF in camel milk was reduced to 2.0 percent and 6.0 percent respectively. This change was made keeping in mind the average composition of milk of domestic camel breeds since they do not have high-fat content. These revised values were included in the draft of the final regulations and have been approved by the FSSAI in a meeting held on 25 May 2017. Therefore these standards will now come into force on 1 June 2017 and the implementation will commence with immediate effect.
The standards for camel milk have been inducted into the Food Safety and Standards (food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 in the regulation relating to DAIRY PRODUCTS AND ANALOGUES the standards for which are as follows
Class of milk | Designation | Locality | Milkfat | Minimum percent milk solids nonfat |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Camel Milk | Raw, pasteurized, boiled, flavored and sterilized | All India | 2.0 | 6.0 |
About Camel Milk
In India, camel milk is traditionally produced in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat which have the geography and vegetation for supporting camels. In most countries particularly in the UAE camels are commercially farmed for their milk. Their diet is limited to grazing grass, alfalfa and fodder crops. In India, camels are found in the region of the Thar Desert which has a unique flora and fauna. Some of the plants found here have medicinal value and it is possible that this vegetation, on which the camel feed, bring indirect benefits to those consumers who prefer to drink camel milk like diabetics. Some of the best and most nutritious camel milk is therefore available in India.
The market for camel milk is developing worldwide because the milk has unique properties that are good for health. Health conscious consumers prefer camel milk for its low-fat content and the new standards of FSSAI have therefore kept the fat content as low as 2 percent only. Fat content in camel milk in India varies between1 to 4 percent depending on the season and diet of the camels.
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