FSSAI Cracks Down on Nestlé and Hindustan Unilever Over Misleading Health Claims

In a significant move aimed at tightening food safety and transparency standards, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued formal notices to the local arms of multinational giants Nestlé and Unilever. The regulator has accused both companies of employing “misleading” marketing tactics and failing to adhere to mandatory labeling regulations.

Scrutiny on Nestlé’s Renal Care Product

The FSSAI’s attention has turned toward Nestlé India regarding its “Resource Renal” vanilla-flavour powder, a product specifically marketed to individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease. According to an official notification released by the regulator on October 17, the product is categorized under “Food for Special Medical Purpose.”

The watchdog alleges that Nestlé failed to secure the necessary statutory approvals required for products of this medical designation. Furthermore, the regulator pointed out a procedural violation regarding packaging, noting that the product omitted the mandatory vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol required by Indian labeling laws. Nestlé has been served a “show cause” notice and must provide a formal explanation within a designated timeframe.

Regulatory Hurdles for Hindustan Unilever

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has also come under the scanner regarding its popular health drink brand, Horlicks. The FSSAI has questioned several marketing assertions made on the packaging of “Horlicks Women’s Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink.”

The regulator explicitly challenged claims regarding bone strength and the improvement of bone density over a six-month period, labeling them as non-compliant with current industry standards. Additionally, the FSSAI flagged the product’s “No Added Sugar” claim, citing the presence of maltodextrin—a processed carbohydrate derived from starches—as a point of contention. Other objections were raised regarding the presentation of the nutritional information table and the promotional claim of providing “100% RDA of Calcium, Vitamin D & K2.”

In a separate action, the regulator challenged claims associated with “Horlicks Mother’s Plus Kesar.” The FSSAI stated that marketing language suggesting the product helps ensure a “Healthy Birth Weight” is potentially misleading, as such terminology incorrectly implies that the food product itself acts as a direct medicinal intervention for fetal health. HUL has also been directed to show cause for these labeling discrepancies.

Part of a Broader Regulatory Cleanup

These latest notices are part of a wider, ongoing crackdown by the FSSAI on how fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies market their products to the Indian public. The regulator has been increasingly aggressive in auditing labeling declarations and ingredient disclosures across the food and beverage sector.

Recent months have seen the FSSAI target various high-profile companies, including Dabur India over organic-product claims and several major energy drink brands regarding ingredient transparency. Furthermore, major players in the liquor industry have also faced scrutiny over the accurate disclosure of flavorings and additives.

For Nestlé, this is the latest in a series of regulatory challenges in India. The company is already currently involved in an ongoing dispute with the FSSAI concerning the formulations of its infant-formula brands, NAN Excella Pro and Lactogen Pro. While Nestlé has previously maintained that its products comply with all national regulations and that it remains committed to supporting consumer awareness, the current wave of enforcement indicates that the FSSAI is intensifying its oversight to ensure that health claims are backed by rigorous, compliant evidence.

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