Glass Full of Dilemma: FSSAI Stirs Up the A1 vs. A2 Milk Debate

Recently, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced that Food Business Operators (FBOs) should stop marketing milk and dairy products as “A1” or “A2. The move was welcomed by healthcare professionals and nutritionists, stating that the move will add to better labelling practices in India. But to everyone's dismay, the FSSAI quickly withdrew its advisory, stirring up bigger waves of controversies and discussions on social media.

While some people call it a marketing gimmick by the manufacturers who take advantage of the new buzz to sell one type of milk at higher prices than the other.

The primary distinction between A1 and A2 milk lies in their protein content. Both contain beta-casein, the main protein in milk, but they differ in a single amino acid. The A1 milk is said to have a specific amino acid sequence that, when digested, releases a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). The BCM-7 has been found to cause some digestive discomfort in some individuals, as reported by a few studies. A2 milk, on the other hand, does not contain this amino acid sequence and therefore is more tolerable by the digestive system. The studies, however, were carried out on a small number of participants and observed for a short duration of time. No large scale studies or long term effects have been observed by any of the studies.

Experts and medical professionals on social media platforms have sided against preferring any one type over the other unless advised by a professional or in case of lactose intolerance. Milk fraudsters take advantage of such hype by selling mixed milk containing both A1 and A2 milk at a good 58-68 rupees price, while A2 milk is being sold at a much higher price of 98-99 rupees. Health professionals' response to the dilemma states that milk is just milk and who knows what is being sold, as testing the milk is expensive and needs specific equipment.

Health experts, including endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, general physicians, pediatricians, hepatologists, and nutritionists, have weighed in on the A1 vs. A2 milk debate. The overwhelming consensus is that a specific type of milk doesn't provide any added advantage unless prescribed by healthcare professionals for specific intolerance or allergy to dairy.

The debate is also in the spotlight also due to a common misconception that high consumption of A1 bet-casein can lead to higher susceptibility to type II diabetes. However, the evidence supporting these claims is far from conclusive

Cyriac Abby Philips, a consultant hepatologist posted on the social media platform X, “…Some of my patients were spending close to Rs. 4,000 for a litre of A2 milk. It’s milk. Not A1, not A2, not single origin.”

“It’s just goddamn milk. Every A2 milk fraudster seller out there is going crazy that their swindling business is going bust. You can fool people for a limited time only,” he added.

• Limited Scientific Evidence: While some studies have suggested potential benefits of A2 milk, the claims are weak, observed on smaller populations, inconclusive, and limited by the scale of the study.

• No Proven Health Benefits: The possibility of A2 milk preventing health conditions are weak and hasn't been backed up with strong scientific proof.

• Digestive Tolerance: While A2 milk may be slightly gentle on the digestive system for some individuals with lactose intolerance or sensitivity to milk proteins, the universal applicability of the fact has not yet been established.

• Marketing Gimmick: Many experts believe that the A1 vs. A2 milk debate is primarily a marketing ploy to justify higher prices for A2 milk, that some milk providers are using for their benefit.

• No Reliable Verification: There is no reliable way to verify and test whether milk labeled as A2 is genuinely different from regular milk.