India’s food safety regulator has challenged claims on Nestlé’s Lactogen Pro 1 and NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, as part of a wider crackdown on promotional practices in the infant nutrition market.
India’s food safety regulator has moved against Nestlé India over claims made on infant nutrition products, asking the company to provide scientific backing for statements that suggest easier digestion and immune support, according to reports in Zee Business and other Indian business publications. The action forms part of a wider review of advertising and promotional practices in the infant nutrition category, where regulators have been examining whether marketing crosses the line into prohibited health claims.
At the centre of the scrutiny are Lactogen Pro 1 Powder and NAN Excella Pro Stage 1. FSSAI has reportedly questioned the Lactogen claim that the product contains whey protein, described on packaging and promotional material as a part of milk protein that is easy to digest. It has asked Nestlé to submit evidence to support that assertion. For NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, the regulator has flagged the statement that “5 HMOs help support normal immune system”, saying the wording may imply a physiological benefit that is not clearly permitted under the rules governing infant foods.
The notices come against a broader enforcement push by FSSAI over claims made on food products aimed at babies and young children. According to the reporting, the regulator is also examining marketing tied to other brands, including Complan, and has taken issue with promotional content that may amount to advertising infant milk substitutes. One Instagram Reel posted by creator Ira Fathima, which presented a “Top 5” list of infant formula products, has also been flagged for allegedly promoting brands in a way that could breach the law. The content was said to highlight benefits such as balanced nutrition, stronger immunity, brain development and easier digestion.
The legal framework is strict. The Infant Milk Substitutes Act, as amended, and the FSSAI’s foods for infant nutrition regulations place tight limits on how such products can be advertised or promoted. Under that regime, companies are generally not allowed to use marketing that could encourage sales by suggesting disease prevention, treatment or other physiological benefits unless specifically authorised. The notices reportedly require the addressees to explain why action should not be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related rules, making clear that the regulator wants more than marketing language: it wants evidence.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
