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FSSAI Files Legal Cases Against Nestlé Over Infant Formula Claims
Confirmed
In Short: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has initiated legal proceedings against Nestlé India over alleged violations involving three infant nutrition products.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has filed three separate adjudication cases against Nestlé India over alleged regulatory violations involving three infant nutrition products, including NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, Lactogen Pro 1, and a follow-up formula.
According to FSSAI, the cases stem from concerns over certain claims made for NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1, as well as a quality issue with the follow-up formula sample’s biotin content.
FSSAI said it had examined the products and their promotional material available on e-commerce platforms and found grounds to proceed in respect of each.
In a statement, FSSAI said, “Legal action initiated against Nestle India Ltd over several non-compliances pertaining to the FSS Act. FSSAI remains committed to strengthening the food safety ecosystem through its enforcement actions.”
For NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, FSSAI flagged references to “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein.” Similarly, the regulator found claims for Lactogen Pro 1, which described its whey protein as “easy to digest,” to be in direct breach of advertising and promotional standards.
The third case concerns a follow-up formula sample that, on re-testing, fell short on biotin, a required micronutrient.
Nestlé India disputed the concerns and maintained that its products comply with all applicable rules. A company spokesperson said, “Our products are fully compliant with all the applicable regulations. The said products (i.e., NAN EXCELLA PRO & LACTOGEN PRO) and their labels were approved by the expert committee of FSSAI.”
The Central Consumer Protection Authority had asked FSSAI to examine the composition of the products, leading to pan-India testing of baby-formula products of Nestlé and other manufacturers.
On the day of FSSAI’s announcement, shares of Nestlé India were reported to have fallen around two percent on the stock exchange.
The promotional-claim cases have to be understood against the special legal regime that governs infant food, where claims highlighting particular ingredients or benefits are scrutinised far more strictly than for general consumer goods.
What's confirmed
- “Our products are fully compliant with all the applicable regulations. The said products (i.e., NAN EXCELLA PRO & LACTOGEN PRO) and their labels were approved by the expert committee of FSSAI,” a company spokesperson said.
- For NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, FSSAI flagged references to “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein”.
- Similarly, FSSAI flagged claims for Lactogen Pro 1 that described its whey protein as “easy to digest.” The regulator found this claim to be in direct breach of the same advertising and promotional standards.
What's still developing
- New Delhi, Sep 18(APAC Media): Oppo has launched ColorOS 17, its latest smartphone software based on Android 17.
- On the reported facts, the finding relates to a sample on re-analysis; whether it is confined to that sample or extends to other batches is the kind of question an adjudication and any follow-on testing would examine.
- ALSO READ: Red Hexagon ‘HIGH FAT, SUGAR, SALT’ Warning: Supreme Court Pushes FSSAI On Junk-Food Labelling, Poses 13 Questions Why the claims matter: a tightly regulated category The promotional-claim cases have to be understood against the special legal regime that governs infant food.