Nestle India Hits Back: Response Filed Over Lactogen Pro 1 Digestion Claims
Nestle India has submitted a response to FSSAI regarding digestion claims for Lactogen Pro 1 following a request for scientific evidence.
Nestle India has officially submitted a comprehensive response to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding specific labelling claims made for its infant nutrition product, Lactogen Pro 1. The move comes after the national food regulator demanded concrete scientific evidence to back the company's assertion that the whey protein used in the product is easy to digest.
The Core of the Dispute
The controversy centers on the packaging and advertising materials of Lactogen Pro 1. The FSSAI observed that the product claims its whey protein—a component of milk protein—is "easy to digest." To ensure consumer transparency and safety, the regulator directed the food business operator to provide supporting documents and scientific proof to substantiate this specific health claim within a set timeframe.
A spokesperson for Nestle India confirmed the submission, stating, "FSSAI’s recent post reiterates the points raised in its earlier post of 18 September regarding product labels. We have already submitted our detailed response to FSSAI on this matter."
A Wider Crackdown on Infant Nutrition
This inquiry is not an isolated incident but part of a broader campaign by the FSSAI to purge the market of misleading health claims. The regulator has been scrutinizing various food manufacturers and entities over non-compliant promotions and unsubstantiated benefits linked to infant nutrition products.
Key Areas of Regulatory Concern:
- Immunity and Digestion: The FSSAI has questioned various claims suggesting that certain ingredients in infant formulas support a "normal immune system" or enhance digestion.
- Digital Promotions: The regulator has flagged social media content that attributes benefits such as brain development, stronger immunity, and balanced nutrition to infant milk substitutes.
- Legal Compliance: There are concerns that some of these promotional activities may violate the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, 1992 (amended in 2003) and the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020.
What Happens Next?
The FSSAI is currently in the process of reviewing the explanations and scientific evidence submitted by the concerned parties. The regulator will evaluate whether the claims made on the packaging and in advertisements meet the required safety and truthfulness standards before deciding on any further punitive or corrective actions.