FSSAI invites stakeholder feedback on cheese powder standards

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new quality standards for cheese powder, a commonly used ingredient in processed foods, addressing a long-standing regulatory gap. The draft was issued on June 4, 2025, as part of the proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

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The national food regulator has invited comments from stakeholders on newly proposed draft regulations concerning cheese powder. 

As per the draft, cheese powder is defined as a dried form of cheese created by drying cheese dispersed in potable water or a cheese slurry. The product should appear white, light cream, or white with a greenish tinge, and must be free from lumps except those that disintegrate easily under slight pressure. It should also be reasonably free from scorched particles. 

The draft stipulates that cheese powder must not contain any ingredient not naturally present in milk, except those specifically permitted.

The proposed standards for cheese powder include a minimum of 40% milk fat on a dry matter basis, a maximum moisture content of 5%, and a sodium chloride (salt) content not exceeding 5%. The use of food additives must conform to those specified in the regulation. Additionally, the levels of contaminants, toxins, and residues must be within prescribed limits.

Labelling, sampling, and analysis requirements will also apply to the product. These proposed norms are intended to be added to Chapter 2.1.17 of the FSS (Food Products & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Stakeholders can submit their comments within 60 days from June 10.

The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, through notification number F. No. 2-15015/30/2010, dated August 1, 2011. The most recent amendment was made via notification number F. No. STD/FA/38/FSSAI(Part-1), dated October 21, 2024.