Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday initiated legal action against Nestlé India Limited for alleged non-compliance with regulations concerning its infant nutrition products NAN EXCELLA PRO Stage 1 and LACTOGEN PRO 1.
According to FSSAI, it examined the products available on e-commerce platforms along with their promotional material. In the case of NAN EXCELLA PRO Stage 1, the regulator raised objections to claims related to five human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and whey protein. For LACTOGEN PRO 1, FSSAI flagged a claim that the whey protein in the product is easily digestible.
The regulator said both products were found to be in violation of Regulation 4(2) of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The provision restricts promotional claims and representations intended to increase the sale of infant food products.
FSSAI also referred to Section 3 of the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, which places restrictions on the advertising and promotion of such products.
FSSAI said Nestlé India was asked to provide an explanation regarding the claims. Separately, during laboratory testing, a sample of a follow-up formula manufactured by Nestlé India was found to be deficient in terms of its biotin content.
The sample was subsequently sent for re-testing at a referral laboratory. According to FSSAI, the referral laboratory also found that the product did not meet the biotin requirement prescribed under the 2020 regulations.
In view of the alleged violations, FSSAI said three separate cases have been registered against Nestlé India. The action covers both the promotional claims made for the infant nutrition products and the laboratory findings concerning biotin levels.
