Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question evaluates standard regulatory criteria established by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding nutritional claims and regional composition standards for different milk species.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
- Statement (I): According to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, skim milk is categorized under foods that can claim to be "fat-free" because its fat content is strictly less than 0.5 g per 100 mL of liquid product.
- Because cholesterol is associated with the fat globule membrane, reducing the fat to negligible levels also renders the skim milk practically cholesterol-free and extremely low in saturated fat. Thus, Statement (I) is true.
- Statement (II): In the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the minimum requirements for Milk Fat and Solids-Not-Fat (SNF) percentages for species-identified milks (such as cow, buffalo, goat, or sheep milk) are specified regionally.
- These parameters vary across different states and territories of India due to historical variations in animal feed, environmental climates, and local cattle breeds.
- For example, the minimum fat requirement for cow milk is set at 3.5% in some states (like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) and 4.0% in other states (such as Punjab and Haryana). Thus, Statement (II) is true.
Since both statements are correct, the correct option is (A).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.