India Holds Line on Dairy Access Amid U.S. Tariff Surge
A diplomatic rupture between India and the U.S. is escalating as the Trump administration enforces an additional 25% tariff, doubling total duties on many Indian exports—including potential dairy products—to 50%. This punitive action is tied to India’s continued import of discounted Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict . For the Indian dairy sector, the stakes…
Clear Labelling Mandated for Paneer Substitutes to Protect Consumers
In response to growing consumer concerns, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has now mandated that any establishment using “analogue paneer”—a non‑dairy paneer substitute—must clearly declare its status on menus, packaging, or display boards. Although legally permitted since 2021, analogue paneer is composed of vegetable oil, starch, emulsifiers, and powdered milk rather than pure…
GDT Price Index Edges Up 0.7% at Latest Auction
The latest GDT auction delivered a modest uptick in global dairy ingredient prices, with the overall GDT Price Index rising 0.7% compared to the prior event. Underpinning this movement was a weighted average price of USD 4,249 per tonne, indicating stable but firm global demand for dairy commodities . Whole Milk Powder (WMP) prices accounted for…
ACCC Probes Bega’s Bid for Fonterra Oceania
Australia’s competition authority, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has officially opened an informal merger review into Bega Cheese’s proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s Oceania consumer, food‑service, and ingredient operations. The review—launched on 1 August—follows a growing consolidation trend in the Australian dairy sector and marks a strategic pivot by Fonterra to streamline its global…
New Study Reveals Hidden Carbon Risks from Peatland Dairy
A groundbreaking study published on 04 August 2025 demonstrates that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained peatlands—commonly used as grassland for dairy feed—are consistently omitted from standard life cycle assessments (LCAs), leading to substantial underestimates of dairy’s carbon footprint. In Europe, drained peat soils emit on average 31.7 t CO₂‑eq/ha/year, far more than typical mineral soils. When not included…
FDA Elevates Bunge’s Butter Recall to Class II Amid Milk Allergen Concerns
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated a voluntary recall by Bunge North America of its NH European Style Butter Blend to a Class II status, the agency’s second-highest risk level, due to the presence of an undeclared milk allergen, a major allergen under FDA guidelines . Distributed beginning July 14 across 12 U.S. distribution centres…
India’s ₹2-Trillion Paneer Surge: A New Era for Cooperatives
The paneer (cottage cheese) market in India, valued at around ₹64,810 crore in 2024, is set to soar to over ₹2 trillion by 2033 . Despite this boom, more than 90% of consumption remains through local, unpackaged dairies, leaving organized players like Amul, Mother Dairy, Heritage Foods, Milky Mist and Parag Milk Foods with under a 10%…
Tamil Nadu Govt Mulls ₹3 / L Milk Price Hike in Aavin
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, Mano Thangaraj, confirmed that the DMK administration previously raised cooperative milk procurement prices by ₹3 per litre. In addition, farmers currently earn quality‑based incentives of ₹3/litre, plus ₹1/litre extra for premium quality milk. The government is now considering another procurement price hike—subject to approval by the Chief…
Desi Farms Acquires Suruchi Dairy For INR 130 Cr
Pune-based D2C dairy brand Desi Farms has acquired Suruchi Dairy, a much larger and older dairy company, for about INR 130 Cr in an all-cash deal. While Desi Farms acquired a 51% stake in Suruchi Dairy in June, it will acquire the remaining 49% stake next month, Desi Farms founder and CEO Sunil Shahi told Inc42. To…
Don’t Trade India’s Dairy for a Deal with the U.S
Today I was invited to a panel discussion on the India-US Trade Deal, organised by Bharat Krishak Samaj. The session was opened by Ajay Vir Jakhar, who, referring to the pre-decided title of the program, jokingly asked, “What should we call this program now—India-US No Deal?” The hall erupted in laughter, instantly setting the tone…