- What is meant by SNF and total solids in milk? Is there any regulatory requirement for this parameter?
SNF or solids not fat is that nutrient portion present in milk which is other than milk fat and water. It consists of protein (primarily casein and lactalbumin), carbohydrates (primarily lactose), and minerals (including calcium and phosphorus. When SNF is combined with milk fat, then it is called total solids.
Yes, Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 prescribe fat and Solids Not Fats (SNF) for different types of milk. For example -The legal standard for standardized milk is 4.5% fat and 8.5% SNF and the total solids are 13%.
- What is Ice cream?
Ice cream means frozen milk product obtained by freezing a pasteurized mix prepared from milk or other products derived from milk, or both, with or without addition of nutritive sweeteners and other permitted non-dairy ingredients. The said product may contain incorporated air and shall be frozen hard except in case of softy ice-cream where it can be frozen to a soft consistency.
- What is Frozen Dessert?
Frozen Dessert or Frozen Confection means the product obtained by freezing a pasteurised mix prepared with edible vegetable oils or fats or vegetable protein products, or both. It may also contain milk fat and other milk solids with the addition of nutritive sweeteners and other permitted non-dairy ingredients. The said product may contain incorporated air and may be frozen hard or frozen to a soft consistency.
- What is the difference between Ice-cream and Frozen Dessert?
Standards for Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts are prescribed in sub-regulation 2.1.14 and sub-regulation 2.1.15 respectively of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 https://fssai.gov.in/.
- 1.14 Standard for Ice Cream, Kulfi, Chocolate Ice Cream, Softy Ice-Cream, Milk Ice, Milk Lolly and Dried Ice Cream Mix
- 1.15 Standard for Frozen Desserts or Confections with Added Vegetable Oil/ Fat or Vegetable Protein, or both
These standards prescribe qualityand safety parameters for these products so as to ensure the safety of consumers. Both theproducts contain milk solids and other necessary ingredients as per the prescribedstandards. The only difference between frozen dessert and ice cream is that frozendessert use vegetable fat (referred to as edible vegetable oil/palm oil in the labelling) inplace of milk fat.
- What shall consumer see on the label of the container?
Generally, it is difficult to differentiate frozen dessert from ice-cream because of the similar texture and taste. Both the products have standards as prescribed in the Food Safety andStandards Regulations as mentioned above. As per the regulations mentioned above the Frozen Dessert shall indicate on the label
“Contains ………………. % Milk Fat*Edible Vegetable Oil* and Vegetable Fat* and Vegetable Protein Product” (*strike out whatever is not applicable).”
The consumer must check this information on the label to identify or differentiate these products and the name of the product as ‘Frozen dessert or frozen confection’.
- Can milk be fortified with vitamins and what are the regulatory requirements?
Yes, Toned, double toned, skimmed milk or standardized milk can be fortified with vitamins A and D, at the level prescribed in Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018 which is as follows:
S. N |
Nutrients |
Level of nutrient per litre of toned/doubletoned/skimmed milk/standardizedmilk |
Source of nutrient |
1. |
Vitamin A |
270 μg RE- 450 μg RE |
Retinyl acetate orRetinyl Palmitate |
2. |
Vitamin D |
5 μg – 7.5 μg |
*Cholecalciferol or*Ergocalciferol (*only from Plantsource) |
Note: Vitamin A (retinol): 1 IU= 0.3 µg RE (Retinol Equivalent); Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol or Ergocalciferol): 1 IU= 0.025 µg
The above requirements are voluntary.
- What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose is the milk sugar present in milk. It acts as a source of energy not only for the individuals who consume milk but also for the microorganisms in milk. Normally,
lactose is converted in to glucose and galactose, which are subsequently converted in to lactic acid and absorbed in the intestine. Beta galactosidase is the enzyme that plays a major role in the conversion of lactose in to lactic acid. Lactose intolerance develops when the secretion of enzyme beta galactosidase decreases. Undigested lactose absorbs excess water, while passing through the large intestine. Bacteria present in large intestine act on the lactose and convert it in to acid and gas. This acid, gas and excess water are responsible for flatulence, stomach pain and sometimes enteritis.
- What is lactose free milk?
Low Lactose or Lactose free milk means the product prepared from any type of milk, in which, lactose content has been reduced significantly through hydrolysis by enzymatic or any other appropriate process. Standards for lactose free/low lactose milk have been framed and are in the process of draft notification.
- Is there classification of milk as A1 and A2? Which one is beneficial to health?
Standards of milk as specified in Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 do not mention or recognize any differentiation of milk on the basis of A1 and A2 types.
Although the issue regarding adverse or beneficial effects of A1 and A2 types of milk have been discussed at the various meetings of Scientific Panel on Milk and Milk Products, the panel has not come to any conclusion on this issue due to lack of clinical data or risk assessment done at scale so far.
subhash Shah says
From:
Subhash H Shah
(Food Safety Advisor)
To,
Chief Executive Officer,
FSSAI,
New Delhi
Ref:- FSSAI Lic No: 10012042000121.Please see the attachment.
Sub:- To analyzed the quality of Cavin’s Milk Shake of different Flavors.
Dear Sir,
I am a regular user of above products. I have a doubt in my mind about its quality of these products. Because of following reasons:
Each pack Cavin’s has price Rs 130/- per liter. The seller gives one on one free. Hence each cost is Rs 65/- per liter.
Most probably packed standards milk sold approx Rs 50/- per liter.
Means 15/- more than the usual price.
How can this product sale all over India at Rs 65/- per liter.
Where is the cost of profit, processing, forwarding and printing? Is it possible to cover it only in Rs 15/- per liter.
I kindly request the concern authorities to examine the quality of this product in view of its Nutritional Information standards printing on the package.
Please exam it in view of Public Health at Large.
Yours truly
Subhash H Shah
Address of above Product:-
CavinKare Pvt Ltd, Bhavani to Anthiyur Main Road,
Malambadi, Erode-638 314,Tamil Nadu,India
Date: 25/6/2019
Place : Vadodara , Gujarat, India.