FSSAI issues notices to Nestle India, HUL over misleading nutrition claims
Synopsis
India's top food regulator FSSAI has simultaneously targeted two of the country's biggest FMCG giants — Nestle India and HUL — over allegedly misleading nutrition claims across products aimed at kidney patients, pregnant women, and women's bone health, while also cancelling a food manufacturer's licence outright. The coordinated enforcement action, announced on 17 October 2026, signals that e-commerce product listings are now firmly within FSSAI's regulatory crosshairs.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI issued a notice to Nestle India on 17 October 2026 over its 'Nestle Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder' , citing missing regulatory approval and absent vegetarian/non-vegetarian labelling.
HUL received two separate notices — one for 'Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar 400 g BIB' over potentially misleading birth-weight claims, and another for 'Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink 400 g' over multiple non-compliant health claims.
The claim 'No Added Sugar' on the HUL product was flagged as potentially misleading due to the presence of maltodextrin in the formulation.
Both companies have been asked to respond within prescribed time frames; failure to satisfy the regulator could trigger further action under food safety laws.
FSSAI separately cancelled the licence of Bala Ji Food Products with immediate effect, ordering a halt to all manufacturing and distribution activities.
Relevant licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms have been directed to take action in line with food safety laws.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday, 17 October 2026, issued notices to major FMCG companies — including Nestle India and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) — over alleged misleading claims and regulatory non-compliances in certain nutrition products sold in New Delhi and across India. The food regulator also separately cancelled the licence of Bala Ji Food Products with immediate effect over serious food safety violations.
Notice to Nestle India
FSSAI served a notice to Nestle India regarding its product 'Nestle Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder', which is intended for the dietary management of individuals with conservatively treated chronic kidney disease. The regulator said an examination of a complaint, product label, advertisements, and e-commerce listings revealed multiple non-compliances.
According to FSSAI, such products require prior approval under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations, 2022. The company had reportedly not obtained this requisite approval, rendering the product non-compliant. Additionally, the mandatory vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol was allegedly missing from the product label, in violation of labelling rules.
FSSAI directed Nestle India to submit a show-cause response within the stipulated period, warning that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could invite further action under food safety laws.
Multiple Notices Against HUL
HUL received notices over two of its products. The first concerned 'Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar 400 g BIB', where FSSAI flagged claims such as 'Healthy Birth Weight' on the product label and 'For baby's healthy birth weight' in advertisements as potentially misleading. The regulator also observed that certain promotional descriptions used on e-commerce platforms did not conform to regulatory requirements.
A separate notice was issued for 'Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink 400 g'. FSSAI flagged several claims — including 'Nutrition for Strong Bones', 'Clinically Proven to Help Improve Bone Strength in 6 Months', and 'Improves Bone Health' — as misleading or non-compliant. The regulator also questioned the use of the term 'Healthy Muscles', saying it violated provisions governing the use of 'healthy' in food claims.
Notably, FSSAI said the claim 'No Added Sugar' was potentially misleading given the presence of maltodextrin in the product formulation. Deficiencies in the nutritional information table were also noted, and the claim of '100 per cent RDA of Calcium, Vitamin D and K2' was said to be non-compliant with applicable food safety requirements. HUL has been asked to respond within the prescribed time frame.
Licence of Bala Ji Food Products Cancelled
In a separate but concurrent action, FSSAI announced the cancellation of the licence of Bala Ji Food Products with immediate effect, citing serious violations of food safety, hygiene, and sanitation requirements. The licence had earlier been suspended after inspections revealed significant non-compliances posing risks to public health.
Despite being given an opportunity for a personal hearing, the company's explanations were deemed unsatisfactory and the deficiencies remained unaddressed. Bala Ji Food Products has now been directed to immediately halt all manufacturing, processing, packaging, and distribution activities.
Broader Regulatory Context
This comes amid a sustained push by FSSAI to scrutinise nutrition and health claims on packaged food products, particularly those marketed to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, lactating mothers, and patients with chronic illnesses. The regulator has also looped in relevant licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms, requesting them to take action in accordance with food safety laws — signalling a widening of accountability beyond manufacturers to digital marketplaces.
Notably, the action against two of India's largest FMCG players, combined with a licence cancellation, marks one of the more sweeping enforcement days the regulator has publicly disclosed. How swiftly Nestle India and HUL respond, and whether their explanations satisfy FSSAI, will determine if the notices escalate into formal penalties or product recalls.
Point of View
Advertisements, and e-commerce listings were all examined, reflecting a regulatory posture that now treats digital shelves as accountable as physical ones. The 'No Added Sugar' flag on a product containing maltodextrin is particularly sharp: it mirrors a global conversation about how functional ingredients are used to circumvent spirit-of-the-rule claims. What remains to be seen is whether these notices translate into enforceable penalties or get absorbed as routine compliance friction by companies with deep legal resources. The Bala Ji licence cancellation, by contrast, shows FSSAI is willing to use the nuclear option — but it was deployed against a smaller player, raising questions about whether accountability scales uniformly across the industry.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FSSAI issue a notice to Nestle India?
FSSAI issued a notice to Nestle India over its 'Nestle Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder', a product for chronic kidney disease patients, because the company had reportedly not obtained the prior regulatory approval required under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations, 2022. The regulator also flagged the absence of a mandatory vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol on the product label.
What claims on Horlicks products did FSSAI flag as misleading?
FSSAI flagged 'Healthy Birth Weight' and 'For baby's healthy birth weight' on Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar as potentially misleading. On Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink, the regulator challenged claims including 'Clinically Proven to Help Improve Bone Strength in 6 Months', 'Healthy Muscles', and 'No Added Sugar' — the last because the product contains maltodextrin.
What action has FSSAI taken against Bala Ji Food Products?
FSSAI cancelled the licence of Bala Ji Food Products with immediate effect on 17 October 2026, following serious violations of food safety, hygiene, and sanitation norms. The company was previously suspended after inspections found significant non-compliances, and its explanations at a personal hearing were found unsatisfactory. It has been directed to halt all manufacturing, processing, packaging, and distribution activities immediately.
What can happen if Nestle India and HUL do not respond satisfactorily?
If the companies fail to provide satisfactory responses within the prescribed time frame, FSSAI has warned that further action under food safety laws could follow. This could include formal penalties, product recalls, or other enforcement measures under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Are e-commerce platforms also being held accountable in this action?
Yes. FSSAI has specifically noted non-compliant promotional descriptions on e-commerce platforms and has requested relevant licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms to take action in accordance with food safety laws, extending regulatory accountability beyond just the manufacturers.
