FSSAI Slams Nestle and HUL Over Misleading Labels and Claims
FSSAI flags Nestle India and HUL for misleading food product claims and labeling irregularities. Read the full details here.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent a strong signal to the FMCG sector by issuing notices to two of the biggest players in the industry, Nestle India and Hindustan Unilever (HUL). The regulator has flagged serious irregularities regarding how these companies package, label, and list their food products online, suggesting that consumers may have been misled by exaggerated or incorrect claims.
Announced on Saturday, October 17, 2026, the crackdown focuses on potential breaches of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and the Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
HUL Under Fire for Nutrition Drink Claims
Hindustan Unilever is facing intense scrutiny over two of its prominent health drinks. The FSSAI has questioned the marketing tactics used for Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink. Specifically, the regulator took issue with the claim that the drink is "clinically proven to improve bone strength in 6 months."
Furthermore, the "no added sugar" claim on the same product was flagged as misleading, as the FSSAI pointed out the presence of maltodextrin. The regulator also expressed concerns regarding the overall marketing of bone health associated with the product.
The heat didn't stop there. Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar is also in the crosshairs. The FSSAI deemed it inappropriate that claims such as "healthy birth weight" and "DHA for brain development" were integrated directly into the product's name.
Nestle India's Labeling Discrepancies
Nestle India is facing a different set of challenges, primarily centered around classification and mandatory approvals. The regulator highlighted discrepancies in the Nescafe Ready-to-Drink range, which includes Choco Mocha, Intense Cafe Cappuccino, and Chilled Latte.
The issue lies in the contradiction between labels describing the products as "flavoured milk" while they are officially classified as "proprietary food." These specific products are co-manufactured by Lotus Dairy Products Pvt Ltd and Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Private Ltd.
Additionally, Nestle's Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder was cited for two major lapses:
- It failed to obtain the mandatory pre-approval required for products intended for renal patients.
- It did not display the essential vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol.
Wider Crackdown on Food Safety
While the notices to Nestle and HUL have grabbed headlines, the FSSAI is conducting a broader cleanup of food safety standards. In a severe move, the regulator has suspended the licenses of two other entities: Balaji Food Products and Sukhdarshan Pharma, citing grave food safety violations.
To ensure these errors are not repeated across digital storefronts, the FSSAI has directed licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms to implement necessary corrective measures immediately. Both Nestle and HUL have been demanded to provide formal explanations regarding the flagged irregularities.