The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued show-cause notices to Nestlé India and Hindustan Unilever regarding nutrition claims, product approvals, and labeling for specialized nutrition products. The regulator sent the notices on October 19 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, targeting Hindustan Unilever’s Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar beverage and Nestlé’s Resource Renal powder. Both companies must provide technical explanations within a specified period, including scientific evidence for their claims and details of statutory approvals required for distribution.
Issues with maternal nutrition claims
FSSAI officials questioned the wording in Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar, specifically claims that the product supports healthy fetal birth weight. The regulator stated these assertions could be misleading under the 2018 Advertising and Claims Regulations because they implied a direct physiological outcome without established clinical causation. The review extended beyond packaging to include advertising, e-commerce listings, and promotional materials. FSSAI scrutinized references to protein for birth weight, fatty acids for fetal cognitive development, and the absence of added sugar across these digital and physical channels.
The action against Nestlé concerns Resource Renal, a specialized formulation for dietary management related to chronic kidney disease. Inspection findings revealed that the product lacked pre-market approvals required under the 2022 rules governing Foods for Special Medical Purposes. Officials also reported that the packaging did not display the mandatory green or brown vegetarian identification marks stipulated by the 2020 Labelling and Display Regulations. FSSAI warned that unsatisfactory responses could lead to further legal action, including restrictions on marketing, product recalls, and revocation of commercial licenses.