Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDry powder mix
Industry PositionPackaged Dessert Mix (Cereal/Starch-Based)
Market
Custard powder in India is a starch-based dessert mix used to thicken milk into an eggless custard-style dessert for households and foodservice applications. India has established domestic manufacturing and branded retail/HORECA supply, with well-known players such as Weikfield and Brown & Polson. Product compliance is anchored to FSSAI standards for custard powder under cereals and cereal products, alongside India’s packaged-food labelling and packaging rules. Imported custard powder and mixes are subject to FSSAI’s food import clearance process, including document scrutiny and risk-based sampling/testing.
Market RoleDomestic consumer market with established domestic manufacturing; imports (where applicable) cleared under FSSAI food import clearance
Domestic RoleCommon dessert thickener/mix used with milk in home cooking and HORECA desserts (e.g., fruit custard, kulfi-style applications)
Specification
Physical Attributes- Fine powder, free from rancidity and fermented/musty odour
- Free from foreign matter (as per FSSAI custard powder standard)
Compositional Metrics- Moisture: not more than 12.5% (FSSAI custard powder standard)
- Total ash excluding added common salt (dry basis): not more than 0.5% (FSSAI custard powder standard)
- Ash insoluble in dilute HCl (dry basis): not more than 0.1% (FSSAI custard powder standard)
Packaging- Consumer retail packs (brand-specific)
- Foodservice bulk packs (e.g., 1 kg and larger multi-kg formats used in HORECA channels)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Starch raw material sourcing (maize starch / sago/tapioca) → dry blending with salt and permitted colours/flavours (brand-specific) → sieving → packaging → ambient distribution to retail and HORECA
Temperature- Ambient storage and transport; protect from heat and moisture to avoid caking and quality degradation
Atmosphere Control- Moisture-barrier packaging and low-humidity storage are important to maintain free-flowing powder condition
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is formulation- and packaging-dependent; many branded products are designed for long ambient shelf-life, but quality is sensitive to moisture ingress after opening
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-conformance to India’s FSSAI custard powder standard (e.g., moisture/ash limits, foreign matter, or use of non-permitted colours/flavours) and/or packaged-food labelling requirements can trigger import clearance failure (NCR), detention, market withdrawal, or recall actions.Run pre-shipment testing against FSSAI custard powder parameters; verify additive permissions and label format (including veg/non-veg declaration) before shipment and again at import filing under FICS.
Food Safety MediumBecause custard powder is typically prepared with milk in India, downstream product safety perception can be impacted by milk contamination risks (FSSAI’s national milk survey highlights Aflatoxin M1 and antibiotic residues as more serious concerns than adulteration).For foodservice and ready-to-prepare programs, specify compliant dairy inputs (e.g., vetted suppliers, documented testing controls) and implement a HACCP-based FSMS covering dairy handling.
Packaging MediumPackaging material non-compliance (food-contact suitability and migration limits) can create enforcement risk and force packaging changes, especially for plastic-based primary packaging.Use packaging materials that meet FSSAI Packaging Regulations and maintain supporting conformity evidence from appropriate testing where required.
Logistics MediumMoisture ingress during storage/transport in humid conditions can cause caking and quality defects in custard powder, increasing complaint and rejection risk in retail and HORECA channels.Use moisture-barrier primary packaging, include clear resealing/storage instructions, and manage warehousing humidity and FIFO discipline.
Sustainability- Food-contact packaging material compliance (food-grade suitability and migration controls) can create reformulation/packaging-change risk for suppliers using non-compliant packaging materials.
Labor & Social- High mix of organized and smaller-scale food businesses in India increases the importance of auditable FSMS (HACCP-based) and hygiene controls under FSSAI licensing conditions.
Standards- FSMS (HACCP-based) documentation and GMP/GHP alignment (commonly requested by organized buyers and also emphasized under FSSAI hygiene requirements)
FAQ
What quality limits apply to custard powder sold in India?FSSAI defines a custard powder standard under cereals and cereal products. Key requirements include: moisture not more than 12.5%, total ash (excluding added common salt, on dry basis) not more than 0.5%, and ash insoluble in dilute HCl (on dry basis) not more than 0.1%, along with being free from foreign matter and off-odours.
How are imported custard powders and dessert mixes cleared for sale in India?FSSAI clears imported foods through its Food Import Clearance System (FICS), integrated with Customs ICEGATE. Consignments may undergo document scrutiny, visual inspection, and risk-based sampling/testing; if conforming, an NOC is issued, and if not, an NCR is issued.
Is custard powder in India typically vegetarian and eggless?Many mainstream custard powder products marketed in India are positioned as vegetarian/eggless (for example, Brown & Polson and Weikfield make eggless/vegetarian claims). Consumers and buyers should still verify the ingredient list and the required veg/non-veg declaration symbol on the package under FSSAI labelling rules.