FSSAI Flags Nestlé and HUL Nutrition Products Over Misleading Claims and Regulatory Violations
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Nestlé India and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) over alleged misleading nutritional claims and regulatory violations involving specialised nutrition products. The action, announced on October 17, 2026, requires the companies to explain the discrepancies identified by the food regulator.
FSSAI issued a notice to Nestlé India concerning its Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder, intended for the dietary management of people with conservatively treated chronic kidney disease. After examining a complaint, the product label, advertisements and online listings, the authority identified several compliance concerns. According to the regulator, the product lacked the prior approval required under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2022. Its packaging also reportedly omitted the mandatory vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol, violating applicable labelling requirements.
Separately, FSSAI has raised concerns about descriptions and food-category declarations for certain Nescafé ready-to-drink beverages sold online. These concerns relate to discrepancies in product information presented on e-commerce platforms.
HUL has also received a notice concerning Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar 400 g BIB. The regulator questioned the claims “Healthy Birth Weight” on the product label and “For baby’s healthy birth weight” in advertisements, describing them as potentially misleading. Certain promotional descriptions on e-commerce platforms were also flagged for allegedly failing to meet regulatory requirements.
In another notice involving Horlicks Women’s Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink 400 g, FSSAI raised objections to claims such as “Nutrition for Strong Bones”, “Clinically Proven to Help Improve Bone Strength in 6 Months” and “Improves Bone Health”. The authority also questioned the use of “Healthy Muscles”, citing provisions governing the use of the term “healthy” in food claims. Additionally, the “No Added Sugar” claim was flagged because the product contains maltodextrin. FSSAI identified deficiencies in the nutritional information table and raised concerns about the claim “100 percent RDA of Calcium, Vitamin D & K2”.
HUL has been asked to respond within the prescribed period, while relevant licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms have been requested to take appropriate action under food safety laws.
In a separate enforcement action, FSSAI cancelled the licence of Bala Ji Food Products with immediate effect following serious violations of food safety, hygiene and sanitation requirements. The licence had previously been suspended after inspections identified significant deficiencies that could pose risks to public health. The company was allowed to present its explanation, but the regulator found its response unsatisfactory and the shortcomings unresolved. Following the cancellation, the manufacturer was directed to stop all manufacturing, processing, packaging and distribution activities.
