FSSAI orders Nestlé India to substantiate whey protein and immune-support claims on infant formulas
India’s food regulator has sent notices to Nestlé India demanding scientific proof for whey protein and HMO-based immune claims on its Lactogen Pro 1 and Nan Excella Pro Stage 1 infant products.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued formal notices to Nestlé India Limited concerning two of its infant nutrition brands. The agency highlighted a whey-protein claim on Lactogen Pro 1 Powder, requesting scientific validation, and scrutinized Nan Excella Pro Stage 1’s assertion that “5 HMOs helps support the normal immune system,” deeming it potentially non-compliant with regulations that forbid disease-related claims without explicit approval.
Nestlé has been instructed to submit the required evidence within the set timeframe or risk enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The regulator’s action coincides with other recent notices to firms such as Abbott Healthcare, Nutricia International, Mead Johnson Nutrition (India), and influencer Ira Fathima for alleged violations of infant-milk substitute advertising rules. Additional enforcement notices were sent to Zydus Wellness for growth-related claims, Zepto for mislabeled besan, and several other companies for misleading labeling and advertising. A response from Nestlé was pending at the time of publication.
Why it matters
Regulatory scrutiny of infant formula claims affects consumer trust and could reshape marketing practices in India's large baby-food market.
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