India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent notice letters to Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and Nestle India for making misleading claims and inconsistent labelling with respect to various food items.
FSSAI issued notices to Hindustan Unilever and Nestle India regarding misleading claims and inconsistent labelling on products like Horlicks nutritional drinks, Nescafe beverages, and Resource Renal powder, requiring explanations for compliance with food safety regulations.
These notice letters pertain to the following HUL products:
-Horlicks Women’s Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink
-Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar
And these notice letters relate to the following Nestle India products:
-Nescafe ready-to-drink coffee drinks
-Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder
As per FSSAI, some claims and product descriptions may not be in line with the rules of food safety.
Why Has FSSAI Issued A Notice To Hindustan Unilever?
The FSSAI has raised concerns about claims made for two Horlicks products: Horlicks Women’s Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink and Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar.
The regulator flagged claims relating to bone strength, healthy birth weight and the use of the term “No Added Sugar”. It reportedly found that some of these claims could be misleading or inconsistent with the rules governing food labelling and advertising.
Claims about nutrition and health can influence consumers’ purchasing decisions, particularly when products are marketed to women or mothers. Food labels and advertisements must therefore comply with the applicable requirements and should not create an inaccurate impression about a product’s benefits.
HUL has been asked to submit its explanation within the prescribed period. The notice does not, by itself, establish that the company has violated the rules. The regulator will consider the company’s response before deciding on any further action.
FSSAI Flags Labelling Differences In Nescafe Coffee Drinks
The regulator has also issued notices to Nestle India and two dairy manufacturers, Schreiber Dynamix Dairies and Lotus Dairy Products, over the labelling and online descriptions of three Nescafe ready-to-drink beverages.
The products named in the matter are Nescafe Intense Cafe Cappuccino flavour, Nescafe Choco Mocha and Nescafe Chilled Latte, which were reportedly offered for sale on e-commerce platforms.
According to the FSSAI, the packaging carried different descriptions on the front and back. The front reportedly described the products as “Flavoured Milk”, while the back identified them as “Proprietary Food – Dairy Based Drink”.
Their online listings also described them as “Coffee Flavoured Milk”. The regulator raised concerns that these descriptions were inconsistent with the declared food category and the product information provided to consumers.
The FSSAI also questioned online claims such as “crafted with the goodness of flavoured double toned milk”, saying these descriptions were not consistent with the declared composition or category of the products.
Nestle Resource Renal Powder Faces Approval Concerns
In a separate matter, the FSSAI issued a notice to Nestle India concerning Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder.
The product is intended for the dietary management of individuals with conservatively treated chronic kidney disease. Since it is designed for people with a specific medical condition, it falls under a category of foods subject to additional regulatory requirements.
The regulator said the product was being marketed without the required prior approval from the food authorities.
Such products are governed by the Food Safety and Standards regulations covering health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary use, foods for special medical purposes, and prebiotic and probiotic foods. The relevant framework includes the FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations, 2022.
According to the FSSAI, the absence of the required approval makes the product non-compliant with the applicable regulatory requirements. Nestle India has been asked to respond to the notice.
