The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to Nestle India over a claim that its Lactogen Pro 1 Powder contains whey protein that is easy to digest, seeking scientific evidence to substantiate the assertion.
The notice is part of a wider regulatory crackdown on misleading claims and non-compliant promotions by food business operators (FBOs), including those involving products such as Complan, Nan Excella Pro Stage 1 and infant milk substitutes, the regulator said.
In its notice to Nestle India, FSSAI said the claim that the product contained whey protein, a part of milk protein that was easy to digest, appeared on its packaging or advertising material.
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The company was asked to furnish scientific substantiation for the claim and submit the requisite documents and supporting evidence within the stipulated period.
The action comes as the food regulator steps up enforcement against misleading labelling and advertising claims across the packaged food and beverage industry.
Earlier this month, FSSAI chief executive Rajit Punhani told The Economic Times that the regulator had issued notices to more than 150 food and beverage makers in recent months over issues ranging from misleading ingredient claims to labelling non-compliance.
Punhani said the regulator expected large companies to lead by example in complying with food safety rules and avoiding claims that could mislead consumers.
FSSAI has also been considering regulatory changes to improve consumer access to product information on e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, including manufacturing dates, expiry dates and batch numbers.