The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiated three adjudication cases against Nestle India on 18 September 2026 over alleged non-compliance linked to infant nutrition products. Two cases concern promotional claims for NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1, while one case concerns a follow-up formula sample found sub-standard for biotin content during laboratory analysis.
Infant Food Regulation in India
Infant food products in India are regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 restricts advertisement and promotion of infant milk substitutes and related infant foods.
Promotional Claims and Compliance Rules
The claims under scrutiny included “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein” for NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and “easy-to-digest” whey protein for Lactogen Pro 1. Regulation 4(2) of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020 governs claims and labelling for infant nutrition products, including restrictions on misleading promotional material.
FSSAI examined the products and their promotional material available on e-commerce platforms and sought clarifications from Nestle India. Adjudication under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 can lead to penalties for violations of food safety and labelling provisions.
Laboratory Testing and Referral Analysis
The third case arose after a sample of a Nestle India follow-up formula was found sub-standard for biotin content. A referral laboratory confirmed the finding, and laboratory testing is a statutory part of food safety enforcement in India under the Food Safety and Standards framework.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is the statutory food regulator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act, 1992 is commonly linked with restrictions on promotion of infant foods.
- “HMO” stands for human milk oligosaccharides, which are used in infant nutrition formulations.
- Biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin and is also known as vitamin B7.
FSSAI can initiate adjudication proceedings for violations related to food labelling, claims, and standards. Nestle India is a listed Indian food and beverage company with a major presence in infant nutrition products.
