FSSAI bans FOLINEURO Syrup, Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN over misleading claims
Synopsis
FSSAI has moved against two popular health supplement products — FOLINEURO Syrup and Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN — for misleading branding and non-existent product categories under Indian food law. The orders, which take immediate effect, expose a wider compliance gap in India's fast-growing nutraceutical sector where therapeutic-sounding names and imagery often outrun regulatory approval.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI on 30 July issued prohibition orders against multiple food business operators for misleading claims and labelling violations.
Vatave Health Care's FOLINEURO Syrup was banned after its name and brain imagery were found to falsely suggest neurological benefits.
The product was also classified under 'Nutritional Food Supplement' — a category not recognised under the Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals Regulations, 2016 .
Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN by Global Healthfit Retail India Private Limited was prohibited for using a trade name deemed misleading under the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018 and Labelling Regulations, 2020 .
Global Healthfit must remove misleading claims and submit an Action Taken Report within 30 days or face further regulatory action.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday, 30 July announced strict enforcement action against several food business operators (FBOs) for misleading claims, non-compliant labelling, food safety violations, and hygiene lapses — moves the regulator described as necessary to safeguard consumer interests.
Action Against FOLINEURO Syrup
FSSAI issued a prohibition order against Vatave Health Care covering the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of its product 'FOLINEURO Syrup — Folinic Acid Syrup'. The regulator found that the product name 'FOLINEURO', combined with a brain image on the front of the pack, created a misleading impression that the supplement was designed to support or enhance brain and neurological functions.
Further scrutiny revealed that the product was classified as a 'Nutritional Food Supplement' — a category that does not exist under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals) Regulations, 2016. Based on the complaint, product label, licence details, and available records, FSSAI concluded that the product prima facie failed to comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The prohibition takes effect immediately, and any violation will attract strict legal and penal consequences, the regulator warned.
Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN Sale Halted
In a separate order, FSSAI prohibited the sale of 'Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN', marketed by Global Healthfit Retail India Private Limited. The regulator held that the trade name 'TRUE VITAMIN' was misleading and not recognised under existing food regulations.
The branding was found to violate the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, as it could mislead consumers about the product's nature and benefits. FSSAI directed the company to immediately halt sales, remove all misleading claims from product labels and advertisements, and submit an Action Taken Report within 30 days — failing which further regulatory action would follow.
Broader Enforcement Drive
Thursday's orders are part of a wider FSSAI crackdown that also includes prohibition orders, licence suspensions, and sale bans against other erring businesses. The regulator shared the details in a post on social media platform X, signalling a more visible enforcement posture. Notably, this action comes amid growing regulatory concern in India over nutraceutical and health supplement brands making unverified therapeutic claims on packaging — a segment that has expanded rapidly with the rise of direct-to-consumer wellness commerce.
What Consumers and Businesses Should Know
For consumers, the orders serve as a reminder that product names and imagery implying health or neurological benefits must be backed by regulatory recognition. For businesses, FSSAI's actions underscore that label categories, trade names, and visual branding are all subject to compliance scrutiny — not just ingredient lists. Companies found in violation face not just sale bans but potential licence suspension and penal proceedings under the FSS Act, 2006.
With FSSAI tightening its enforcement calendar, more such actions against non-compliant health supplement brands are expected in the coming months.
Point of View
But collectively they point to a structural problem: India's nutraceutical boom has consistently outpaced its regulatory architecture. Brands have long exploited the ambiguity between food supplements and medicinal claims, using names, imagery, and category labels that skirt the line without crossing it — until now. The 30-day Action Taken Report requirement for Neuherbs is relatively light-touch; the harder question is whether FSSAI has the bandwidth to audit the hundreds of similar products on e-commerce shelves. Enforcement visibility on X is a start, but deterrence requires consistent follow-through, not periodic headline actions.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FSSAI ban FOLINEURO Syrup?
FSSAI banned FOLINEURO Syrup, manufactured by Vatave Health Care, because its name and a brain image on the packaging created a misleading impression of neurological or brain-health benefits. The product was also classified under 'Nutritional Food Supplement', a category not recognised under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals) Regulations, 2016.
What action has FSSAI taken against Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN?
FSSAI has prohibited the sale of Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN, marketed by Global Healthfit Retail India Private Limited, ruling that the trade name 'TRUE VITAMIN' is misleading and violates the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018, and the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020. The company must stop sales immediately, remove misleading claims, and submit an Action Taken Report within 30 days.
What regulations govern health supplements and nutraceuticals in India?
Health supplements and nutraceuticals in India are governed primarily by the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals) Regulations, 2016, along with the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Products must use only recognised categories and cannot make unverified therapeutic or health-function claims.
Who is affected by FSSAI's latest enforcement actions?
The immediate targets are Vatave Health Care (FOLINEURO Syrup) and Global Healthfit Retail India Private Limited (Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN). More broadly, any food business operator selling health supplements with unverified claims or non-recognised product categories is at risk of similar prohibition orders, licence suspensions, or penal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What happens if companies do not comply with FSSAI's orders?
Companies that fail to comply face strict legal and penal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. For Neuherbs specifically, failure to submit an Action Taken Report within 30 days will trigger further regulatory proceedings. Broader non-compliance can result in licence suspension or cancellation.
