The FSSAI withdrew its notification after several milk federations sought the use of local-language names on curd sachets.
Tamil Nadu's sentiments were echoed by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and pro-Kannada outfits in poll-bound Karnataka too. (Twitter)
Having drawn strong criticism from several quarters — including the Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka governments — over the changing of the word “curd” to “dahi” on curd packets of state-run cooperative milk societies, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) withdrew its directive on Thursday, 30 March.
As per a notification dated 10 March 2023, the FSSAI recommended using the word “dahi“, instead of curd, followed by the common regional name in brackets.
“Dahi can be labelled as per following examples: Dahi (Curd), Dahi (Mosaru), Dahi (Zaamut daud), Dahi (Tayir), Dahi (Tair), Dahi (Perugu), etc., based on the regional nomenclature used in different states for Dahi,” the old notification read.
FSSAI withdraws notification. (Supplied)
Following the backlash it received due to the notification, the FSSAI released another notification dated 30 March.
In the recent notification, it stated that Food Business Operators (FBOs) might use the term “curd” along with the prevalent regional common name in brackets on the label.
“FSSAI has notified provisions for omission of the term ‘curd’ from the Standards of Fermented Milk products vide notification dated 11 January 2023. As many representations were received recently on omission of the term ‘curd’ from the Standards of Fermented Milk products, it has been decided that FBOs may use the term ‘curd’ along with any other designation (prevalent regional common name) in brackets on the label. Accordingly, ‘curd’ can be labelled as per following examples: Curd (Dahi) or Curd (Mosaru) or Curd (Zaamut daud) or Curd (Thayir) or Curd (Perugu) etc, [sic]” the new notification read.
According to the FSSAI notification, the labelling is as per the sub-regulation relating to “Standard of Fermented Milk products”.
The Tamil Nadu government first objected to the use of the word “dahi“, raising the red flag of Hindi imposition.
The popular brand Aavin, which functions under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu government, said that it would not use the Hindi term “dahi” on its printed sachets — as directed by the FSSAI — and that it would stick to the Tamil word “tayir“.
Even Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai expressed gratitude to the FSSAI for rolling back the notification and allowing the state government to use the regional language instead of “dahi” on curd sachets.
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we thank @fssaiindia for considering our request for a rollback of the notification released and for allowing the State-run co-operative milk societies to use their respective regional language instead of “Dhahi” on curd sachets. https://t.co/CRyxsCZNYc
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 30, 2023
On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin decried the move as an attempt to “impose Hindi”.
Dairy Development Minister SM Nasar said that the government had received a letter asking it to implement the directive before August. There was no place for Hindi in the state, Nasar said.
Even the Tamil Nadu BJP wanted the FSSAI to withdraw the notification. Annamalai said that the notification was not in tandem with the Centre’s policy of promoting regional languages.
“The notification released by FSSAI for the use of (the word) Dahi in curd sachets produced by state-run cooperative societies is not in tandem with the policy of our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl to promote regional languages. We want an immediate rollback of the notification,” Annamalai said in a tweet.
The notification released by FSSAI for the use of “Dhahi” in curd sachets produced by state-run cooperative societies is not in tandem with the policy of our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl to promote regional languages.
We want an immediate rollback of the notification. pic.twitter.com/SKK18O59li
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 29, 2023
Meanwhile, DMK functionaries trended the Twitter hashtag #DahiNahiPoda” (No to Dahi, go on) to oppose “Hindi imposition.” The party’s IT Wing secretary TRB Rajaa was among those who tweeted with the hashtag.
On Wednesday, Stalin condemned the imposition of Hindi even in the labelling of curd and said that those responsible for it would be “banished” from the southern parts of the country.
On his Twitter handle, Stalin posted a news report on the FSSAI directing the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to label curd as “dahi” prominently. The Bengaluru datelined report had said that the FSSAI directed the KMF to use the Kannada equivalent “mosaru” in brackets.
Citing the report, Stalin tweeted, “The unabashed insistences of #HindiImposition have come to the extent of directing us to label 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. [sic]”
The unabashed insistences of #HindiImposition have come to the extent of directing us to label 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. https://t.co/6qvARicfUw pic.twitter.com/gw07ypyouV
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 29, 2023
FSSAI’s notification on Dahi instead of Curd. (Supplied)
Tamil Nadu’s sentiments were echoed by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and pro-Kannada outfits in poll-bound Karnataka.
KMF Director Anand Kumar said that dairy farmers would not allow it to sell curd sachets with the “dahi” label on them in the state.
Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy also took exception to the inclusion of the term “dahi” on curd packets of Nandini, a popular brand created by KMF.
In a series of tweets, the JD(S) second-in-command called it “Hindi imposition” on Kannadigas.
“Knowing that Kannadigas are opposed to Hindi imposition, it is wrong for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to order KMF to print Hindi Dahi on the packet of Nandini probiotic curd,” said Kumaraswamy.
He said that Nandini was the “property of the Kannadigas, the identity of the Kannadigas, and the lifeline of the Kannadigas. Despite knowing this, the ego of Hindi imposition has been displayed.”
Kumaraswamy alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his Mandya visit, said in a meeting that Nandini would be merged with Gujarat’s Amul. However, there was no response on this issue from the Karnataka Milk Federation.
ಹಿಂದಿ ಹೇರಿಕೆಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ವಿರೋಧವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ನಂದಿನಿ ಪ್ರೋ ಬಯೊಟಿಕ್ ಮೊಸರು ಪಾಕೆಟ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಿಂದಿಯ ‘ದಹಿ’ ಎಂದು ಮುದ್ರಿಸಿರುವುದು,ಅದನ್ನು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಆಹಾರ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ, ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರವು ಕೆಎಂಎಫ್ ಗೆ ಆದೇಶ ನೀಡಿರುವುದು ತಪ್ಪು.ಇದನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.1/9#StopHindiImposition pic.twitter.com/fgAAeZURPQ
— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 30, 2023
(With PTI inputs)
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