Ice Creams & Frozen Desserts are both primarily made from milk/milk derivatives - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 19, 2023
A video is circulating on social media claiming that the products named ‘Frozen Dessert’ do not contain milk/milk derivatives, that they are made only with vegetable oil, and the products named ice cream are made with milk/milk derivatives. Let’s verify the claim made in this post.
Claim: Only ice cream is made with milk/milk ingredients. Products named ‘Frozen Dessert’ are made only with vegetable oil.
Fact: Ice cream and frozen desserts, both products, contain milk/milk derivatives in their ingredients. However, the difference between the both is in the source of fat used in the making of the product. For ice cream, fat extracted from milk is used; on the other hand, vegetable oil is used instead of milk fat for preparing frozen desserts. Both milk fat and vegetable oil have their own merits and demerits based on the quantity and the way they are being used. Hence the claim made in the post is Misleading.
First, to know the facts in this regard, we looked at the details on the packets of frozen desserts made by brands like Kwality Wall’s, Cream Bell, and Dairy Day. The packs state that these are made with milk/milk solids. Milk solid is the material that remains after water is separated from milk. Based on this, it is not accurate to say that the frozen dessert is made with only vegetable oil instead of milk.
According to FSSAI norms, companies using vegetable oil/fat or vegetable protein in ice cream must label their products as frozen desserts, not ice cream.
Why is vegetable oil used in ice cream?
Usually, fat from milk is used to prepare ice cream. It helps to enhance the ice cream’s taste, consistency, texture, etc. But some companies also use vegetable oil (coconut oil, palm oil etc.), cocoa butter etc., as an alternative to milk fat. Companies choose alternatives for reasons such as reducing fat content, adding special flavours, availability of the alternative material at a lower price than milk fat, etc.
Vegetable oil and milk fat, which is better?
Compared to frozen dessert made with vegetable oil, ice cream made with milk fat is generally higher in saturated fats and cholesterol. Taking too much of these can lead to heart-related diseases. However, there are different opinions on the effect of Trans fat which is present in some types of vegetable oils. But doctors warn that any ice cream/frozen dessert can lead to many health problems if consumed frequently and large quantities.
Amul vs Kwality Wall’s Case:
In 2017, Hindustan Unilever, the owner of Kwality Wall’s, filed a case in the court that two commercials (here & here) released by Amul had created a false impression of their products. Amul said in these advertisements that Vanaspathi (Dalda), which is considered harmful, is used in the frozen dessert. However, Hindustan Unilever argued in court that they use vegetable oil instead of Vanaspathi in the frozen desserts they produce. Hindustan Unilever has clarified that vegetable oil is only used as a substitute for milk fat and that frozen desserts are also made from milk/milk derivatives, just like ice creams. After examining the case details, the Bombay High Court delivered a verdict asking Amul to delete the objectionable parts in these advertisements.
To sum up, ice creams & frozen desserts are both primarily made from milk/milk derivatives, claims that frozen desserts are made with only vegetable oil and not milk are untrue.