The Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers’ Employees’ Welfare Association has raised questions about Aavin’s sudden move to withdraw milk with 4.5% fat content, citing health concerns. The association, representing milk dealers, has expressed doubts about the decision, especially since Aavin continues to sell milk with 5% and 6% fat content.
Association president S.A. Ponnusamy highlighted that a significant number of people consume unprocessed milk from cooperative societies, and the actual fat content in such milk remains unknown. He pointed out that Aavin was selling 4.5% fat milk in some regions for ₹56 per liter, and if health concerns were the reason for withdrawal, then milk with 6% fat content should also be considered. Aavin recently unveiled a new ‘Gold’ brand with 5% fat in certain areas, priced the same as their full cream milk with 6% fat.
The milk producer had announced plans to restructure its milk variants, emphasizing 3% fat milk, ‘Delight’ with 3.5% fat, and full cream milk with 6% fat to prioritize consumer health. A dairy farmer noted that milk from various sources was blended without segregating based on fat content, and Aavin later reconstituted the milk for packaging. Indigenous cattle tend to produce milk with higher fat content, while jersey cows provide milk with 4% to 4.5% fat.