New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has flagged a sample of Nestle’s Low Fat Dairy Whitener after laboratory analysis classified it as “unsafe” and “substandard”.
The sample was collected from the premises of Bharat Hotels Ltd, which operates The Lalit hotel in Connaught Place, New Delhi, as part of routine food safety checks.
According to FSSAI, the Food Analyst’s report found the sample non-compliant with requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The food regulator has directed the food business operator to immediately stop the sale of the identified product.
Sample collected from The Lalit
FSSAI said the sample collected from the hotel premises was sent to a laboratory for analysis. The resulting report classified the Nestle Low Fat Dairy Whitener sample as both “unsafe” and “substandard”.
A copy of the laboratory report was provided to the food business operator for reference and further action. FSSAI also issued a notice to Bharat Hotels Ltd regarding the non-compliant product.
The operator has been given an opportunity to appeal against the Food Analyst’s findings within the period prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Pending further proceedings, FSSAI has directed the operator to prohibit the sale of the identified product.
Earlier FSSAI action involving Nestle
The latest action follows previous regulatory proceedings initiated by FSSAI against Nestle India over alleged non-compliance involving certain infant nutrition products and their promotional material.
The regulator had initiated three adjudication cases concerning products including NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1. FSSAI had raised objections to claims relating to “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein” appearing on the products and associated promotional material.
The regulator said the claims were not compliant with provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, and also referred to restrictions under the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, 1992.
Nestle had rejected the allegations and said its products complied with applicable regulations. The company had also said the products and labels had been approved by an FSSAI expert committee and that the claims were factual and supported by scientific literature.
The latest case concerns a different Nestle product and is based on a laboratory finding involving a sample collected from a hotel in New Delhi.
