The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Nestle India and Hindustan Unilever over allegations of misleading nutritional and health claims on dietary supplements.
The regulator said Nestle India marketed its Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder, a dietary supplement for managing a medical condition, without obtaining the required prior approval and failed to label whether the product was vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
Hindustan Unilever faces separate allegations concerning health claims on two products under its Horlicks brand: Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar, a nutritional supplement for mothers, and Horlicks Women's Plus. The regulator questioned claims about "happy birth weight" on the first product and benefits related to bone health, healthy muscles, and the absence of added sugar on the second.
Hindustan Unilever rejected the allegations, stating that both products comply with regulatory requirements and that it would provide scientific and regulatory evidence to support its position. Nestle India had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The notices are part of a broader enforcement campaign by Indian authorities targeting misleading food labels, questionable marketing practices, and violations of manufacturing and storage standards. The action follows regulatory proceedings initiated against Nestle India in September over alleged breaches of infant nutrition marketing rules and manufacturing standards. Nestle said at the time that its products complied with applicable regulations.
The developments highlight growing regulatory pressure on consumer goods companies in India, where authorities are demanding stronger substantiation of nutritional claims and stricter compliance with product labelling requirements.