Instead of vilifying veganism, we must fix our dairy standards

Ashima Sharma

A government official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying was recently quoted describing veganism and the promotion of plant-based dairy alternatives as a “well-planned agenda” targeting the dairy industry. These remarks, made during the inaugural session of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and International Dairy Federation (IDF)/International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Analytical Week 2025 (ICAR Conference, 2025), reflected concerns about the “trying times” the dairy sector is facing and emphasised the need to counter the influence of what was described as vegan “propaganda”.

While dairy authorities have long prioritised milk production and consumption over clean milk practices, it is important to ask: Is veganism truly responsible for the decline in dairy consumption in India? Or is it being used as a convenient smokescreen to mask deeper issues—namely, the failure of dairy authorities to ensure clean, hygienic milk for consumers?

As milk campaigns evolve to counter the so-called vegan propaganda, why have regulatory bodies not amended outdated dairy regulations to ensure safer, more consumable milk in India? This question becomes even more critical when viewed through the lens of consumer rights, particularly the right to hygienic food and the right to know what we consume.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines milk as “the normal mammary secretion derived from complete milking of healthy milch animals”. Similarly, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955, define milk as “the normal clean and fresh secretion obtained by complete milking of a healthy milch animal”. Both definitions emphasise “complete milking” and “healthy milch animals” as prerequisites for quality milk. However, regulations concerning the complete milking process and the health of dairy animals vary significantly across states, often ranging from minimal to non-existent.

The stark reality is that many unregulated dairy farms operating across India operate under unhygienic conditions. Milch animals are often milked through insanitary measures, deprived of proper feed, clean drinking water, and veterinary care, and confined in cramped spaces. How, then, can consumers be confident that the milk they drink comes from healthy animals and is safe for consumption?

Another glaring regulatory failure lies in the absence of a somatic cell count (SCC) limit to determine the quality and safety of milk. Milk naturally contains somatic cells, and their count reflects both cleanliness and animal health. The emphasis on “complete milking” in legal definitions exists because incomplete milking coupled with poor hygiene can lead to mastitis—a bacterial infection of the udder that elevates SCC levels. High SCC not only signals poor animal health but also significantly diminishes milk quality, making it unfit for human consumption.

This issue is more widespread than officially acknowledged. A published study on antibiotic use in Indian dairy farms estimates the prevalence of mastitis in dairy animals to be between 45% and 46.35%. In states like West Bengal, the rate soars to 75%. Cows suffering from mastitis are frequently treated with antibiotics, which often enter the milk supply. When such antibiotic-laced milk is unknowingly consumed, it contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans—a growing public health concern.

In light of this, it is surprising that the same government official claimed that India’s AMR levels are negligible and comparable to European standards. How is this possible when, unlike Europe, India lacks critical safeguards: there is no set SCC limit to determine milk quality, no mandatory measurements of SCC by dairy farmers, and no binding standards regulating the use of antibiotics in dairy animals? Furthermore, there are no legal mandates compelling dairy farmers to test milk
for SCC or antibiotic residues before it reaches consumers.

The role of SCC limits in safeguarding milk quality is more critical than the attention it currently receives in India. This is why many countries have set SCC limits: Europe caps SCC for marketable milk at 400,000 cells/ml, China sets an even lower limit at 300,000 cells/ml, and the UK rewards dairy farmers who maintain lower counts.

Ironically, in India, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) recommends far stricter SCC limits for export-quality milk — 100,000 to 150,000 cells/ml for milk from indigenous cattle and 100,000 cells/ml for milk from Murrah buffalo. Yet, these safeguards do not apply to milk consumed domestically. This point becomes even more pertinent given that the ICAR 2025 Conference also emphasised the need to expand milk exports.

While ICAR 2025 aimed to explore complex issues like advancing climate-smart livestock technologies and improving animal health, basic but critical regulatory steps—such as setting an SCC limit for milk—remain unaddressed. The dairy industry’s backlash against plant-based alternatives is unsurprising, given the growing preference among health-conscious consumers for safer, better-regulated options. The claim that dairy analogues are part of a “propaganda” seems to stem more from market competition and hiding the failures of dairy authorities rather than from actual concerns about consumers. Therefore, instead of dismissing such alternatives, a more constructive approach is required. Ensuring better regulations around milk and milk production, clear labelling, and consumer awareness to allow people to make informed dietary choices must be prioritised over the unnecessary attempts by dairy authorities towards undermining plant-based options.

(The writer is an assistant professor at the School of Law, BML Munjal University)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.