New Delhi, 18 September (H.S.): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated major action against two units of Nestlé India Limited, an infant-food manufacturer, over allegedly misleading claims made about its products.

The authority on Friday issued an order for action following an investigation into two of the company’s key products—NAN EXCELLA PRO Stage 1 and LACTOGEN PRO 1. The FSSAI has initiated proceedings against Nestlé India Limited in three separate cases.

During an inspection of these products being sold through e-commerce platforms, the authority found that the company was making claims on the product packaging and in its marketing regarding “five HMOs,” “whey protein,” and “easy-to-digest whey protein.” Under the applicable regulations, such promotional claims and advertisements intended to boost the sale of infant-food products are prohibited. The authority said these claims constitute a direct violation of the Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020, and the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992.

In addition, laboratory testing of a sample of one of the company’s follow-up formula products found its biotin content to be below the prescribed standard. The sample was subsequently sent for retesting, but it again failed to meet the required standards.

The FSSAI initiated action against Nestlé India on these grounds.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar