India’s food regulator has initiated legal proceedings against Nestlé India over alleged misleading marketing and quality breaches related to infant nutrition products, intensifying scrutiny of online baby food promotion and standards.
India’s food regulator has launched legal action against Nestlé India over alleged lapses in the marketing and composition of infant nutrition products, widening scrutiny of how baby foods are promoted online and what they contain.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, the cases relate to NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, Lactogen Pro 1 and a follow-up formula. The authority said it examined product listings and promotional material on e-commerce platforms, then initiated adjudication proceedings after flagging claims it said breached rules on infant food advertising. The regulator said on Instagram that it had begun action against Nestlé India over several non-compliances linked to the Food Safety and Standards Act.
In the first two products, FSSAI said it objected to claims including references to “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein” on NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, and to a statement on Lactogen Pro 1 that “Whey Protein” was easy to digest. The authority said those claims ran counter to rules that restrict promotional material intended to increase the saleability of infant foods, as well as wider legal limits on advertising infant milk substitutes and infant foods.
The regulator also said a sample of Nestlé’s follow-up formula failed testing on biotin content. FSSAI said the sample was first found to be sub-standard in laboratory analysis and then remained non-conforming after re-testing at a referral laboratory. It said three separate adjudication cases had been filed in connection with the alleged breaches.
The action comes amid a broader enforcement push by FSSAI against food companies over labels and advertising. In August, the regulator said it had issued more than 150 notices in recent months over misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling violations, naming companies including Nestlé, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola India. The latest case also follows a separate June notice to Nestlé over allegations of insect larvae in Maggi noodles, which the company rejected, saying an independent laboratory test found no infestation.
Nestlé has also recently pressed the government to involve industry more closely in drawing up India’s front-of-pack labelling rules. Reuters reported that chief executive Philipp Navratil said the system should be developed scientifically and that companies should be consulted during drafting. The Supreme Court has sought a clear timetable for the warning-label plan, which would identify packaged foods high in sugar, salt or fat.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
