FSSAI backtracks on label of curd in South States

An attempt to label curd as dahi in the Souther States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has resulted in a fierce debate on Hindi imposition, forcing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI to backtrack on its initial notification. The fierce debate saw participation not only from the masses but also from political leaders who saw this as a clear indication of the Hindi imposition in the southern state.

What has happened so far?

The FSSAI directed the Karnataka Milk Federation to label curd as dahi prominently and use mosaru in brackets. According to the clarification, the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation said it could use tair or tayir in brackets, as originally reported by The Hindu.

The Karnataka Milk Federation received a letter from the Karnataka Milk Federation that Dahi can be labelled as per the following examples. Dahi Curd Dahi Mosaru Dahi Zaamut daud Dahi Tayir Dahi Perugu or Dahi Tair etc. Based on regional nomenclature used in different states for Dahi, it is based on regional nomenclature. This labeling came after Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka milk federations sought the use of local nomenclatures on curd sachets.

Several Kannada groups did not take this well and met KMF officials to lodge their protests. The Bengaluru Milk Union said it would write to FSSAI again.

The reaction was swift and sharp. The unabashed insistences of HindiImposition have resulted in a labelling of even a curd packet in Hindi, relegating Tamil Kannada in our own states. Such brazen disregard to our mother tongues will make sure those responsible are banished from South forever, said Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.

Tamil Nadu BJP State President K Annamalai said: The notification by FSSAI for the use of Dahi in curd sachets produced by state-owned cooperative societies is not in tandem with the policy of Hon. PM Thiru narendramodi to promote regional languages. We want an immediate rollback of the notification. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is wrong, as Kannadigas oppose the imposition of Hindi, it is wrong for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to order KMF to print Hindi dahi'' on the pocket of Nandini Probiotic Yogurt, said former CM of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy.

The people on social media also protested against the order.

FSSAI, in a release, acknowledged the issue and said that FBOs can use the term Curd together with any other common name in brackets on the label, as many representations were received recently on the omission of the term curd, from the Standards of Fermented Milk Products.

Accordingly, curd can also be labeled as per following examples: