India’s food safety regulator has issued notices to Nestlé India and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) over alleged misleading product claims, labelling discrepancies and non-compliance with food safety regulations. The action has brought popular consumer products, including Horlicks nutritional drinks and Nescafé ready-to-drink beverages, under regulatory scrutiny.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has flagged concerns about nutritional claims, sugar-related declarations, product classification and approval requirements for specialised dietary products. The notices also cover claims concerning maternal nutrition and infant birth weight, raising important questions about how food and nutrition brands communicate health benefits to consumers.

The regulator has directed the concerned companies to respond within the stipulated period and warned that further action may follow if their explanations are unsatisfactory. Licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms have also been asked to take necessary action.

The development highlights the growing importance of transparent food labelling, accurate advertising and regulatory compliance in India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.

FSSAI Flags Misleading Claims on Horlicks Women's Plus

One of the key products under scrutiny is HUL's Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Nutrition Drink, sold in a 400-gram pack.

According to the regulator, several claims displayed on the product were found to be misleading or inconsistent with applicable food safety regulations. These include statements such as “Nutrition for Strong Bones”, “Clinically Proven to Help Improve Bone Strength in 6 Months” and “Improves Bone Health”.

Such claims can influence purchasing decisions, particularly among consumers looking for nutritional products to support bone health. By highlighting specific health benefits, brands can shape consumer expectations about what a product may deliver.

FSSAI also raised concerns over the use of the expression “healthy muscles”, stating that it contravened the provisions governing the use of the word “healthy” in food-related claims.

The regulator further questioned the product's “No Added Sugar” declaration because of the presence of maltodextrin. It also flagged the claim of “100% RDA of Calcium, Vitamin D & K2” as non-compliant with applicable food safety requirements.

These objections bring several aspects of nutrition marketing into focus, including the language used to promote health benefits, the presentation of sugar-related information and the accuracy of declarations about recommended daily nutrient intake.

For consumers, such details matter because packaging often serves as the first point of reference when comparing nutritional drinks. Claims about bone strength, muscle health, vitamins and minerals can make a product appear particularly suitable for specific dietary needs.

However, the claims identified by the regulator should not be treated as proof that every aspect of the product is unsafe. The notices concern alleged misleading claims and regulatory non-compliance, and the companies have been given an opportunity to respond.

Horlicks Mother's Plus Faces Questions Over Birth Weight Claims

The regulatory action also extends to another HUL product, Horlicks Mother's Plus Kesar, available in a 400-gram bag-in-box pack.

FSSAI has questioned the use of “Healthy Birth Weight” on the product label and “For baby's healthy birth weight” in its advertising. The regulator considers these statements potentially misleading and contrary to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.

The product's presentation on e-commerce platforms has also attracted scrutiny. According to FSSAI, its online product name included the expressions “For Pregnancy and Lactation with Protein for Birth Weight and DHA for Brain Development - No Added Sugar”.

The concerns are particularly significant because products marketed for pregnancy and lactation are aimed at consumers making nutritional decisions during important stages of maternal and infant development.

Expectant mothers and breastfeeding women may pay close attention to statements about protein, brain development, birth weight and sugar content when choosing nutritional supplements or drinks. Such language can create expectations about specific outcomes, making clear and appropriately supported claims essential.

The distinction between providing nutrients and promising a particular health outcome is important. A product may contain ingredients associated with nutrition, but claims suggesting that it will deliver a specific result must comply with the applicable regulatory framework.

FSSAI has directed HUL to submit its response within the prescribed period and warned that further action could be taken if the explanation is not satisfactory.

The notice places renewed attention on advertising standards for maternal nutrition products and the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure that packaging and digital listings accurately communicate a product's intended purpose and benefits.

FSSAI Questions Nescafé Ready-to-Drink Product Labelling

Nestlé India has also come under scrutiny over its Nescafé ready-to-drink coffee range. The regulator has issued notices to the company, Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Private Limited and Lotus Dairy Products Private Limited over alleged non-compliance involving product descriptions, packaging declarations and online listings.

The products identified include Nescafé Intense Café Cappuccino flavour, Nescafé Choco Mocha and Nescafé Chilled Latte.

FSSAI found inconsistencies in how these beverages were described across their packaging. While the front of the packs identified the products as “Flavoured Milk”, the back labels described them as “Proprietary Food - Dairy Based Drink”. Their e-commerce listings, meanwhile, referred to them as “Coffee Flavoured Milk”.

The regulator also questioned online descriptions stating that the beverages were “crafted with the goodness of flavoured double toned milk”, arguing that these claims did not align with the products' declared composition or category.

The issue centres on consistency and accuracy. Consumers shopping online may rely on product titles, descriptions and promotional statements without examining the physical packaging. When different declarations appear across these channels, shoppers may find it difficult to understand exactly what they are buying.

For food manufacturers, the episode highlights the importance of ensuring that product classification, ingredient-related descriptions, packaging declarations and e-commerce advertising remain consistent. Digital product listings are an increasingly important part of the consumer buying journey, making accurate information essential beyond the physical package.

FSSAI has sought explanations from the companies concerned over the alleged violations. The notices do not, by themselves, establish a final determination of liability.

Nestlé Resource Renal Powder Faces Approval Concerns

A separate notice involving Nestlé India concerns Nestlé Resource Renal Vanilla Flavour Powder, a specialised nutritional product intended for the dietary management of individuals with conservatively treated chronic kidney disease.

Unlike ordinary nutritional drinks, products designed for specific medical dietary needs fall under a more specialised regulatory framework. FSSAI said prior approval from the relevant food authorities was required for the product.

The regulator found that Nestlé India had not obtained the necessary approval, rendering the product non-compliant with applicable requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2022.

These rules cover several specialised categories, including health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary use and foods for special medical purposes, alongside prebiotic and probiotic foods.

The approval requirement is particularly important for products intended for people managing medical conditions. Such consumers may depend on specialised formulations as part of a carefully planned diet, making regulatory oversight and accurate product classification essential.

The notice raises questions about compliance with the approval process rather than establishing that the product has caused harm. Consumers should not interpret the regulatory action as proof of an adverse health outcome.

For Nestlé India, the matter adds another dimension to the scrutiny, extending beyond the labelling concerns involving its ready-to-drink coffee products to the regulatory requirements governing specialised nutrition.

What Happens Next? FSSAI Seeks Responses From Companies

The notices mark a regulatory step in addressing the alleged violations. HUL has been directed to respond within the stipulated period, and the regulator has warned that further action may follow if the explanations are unsatisfactory. The notices concerning Nestlé India and the other companies similarly seek explanations for the issues identified.

FSSAI has also asked the concerned licensing authorities and e-commerce platforms to take necessary action. This is significant because compliance concerns can involve not only the manufacturer but also the way products are presented and sold through digital marketplaces.

The companies' responses will be important in determining how the matters proceed. Any subsequent regulatory decision will depend on the applicable requirements, the explanations submitted and the findings of the authorities.

As of the latest reports dated October 17, 2026, the notices concern alleged misleading claims and non-compliance. The reported information does not establish that final penalties have been imposed in these cases.

Why the FSSAI Action Matters for Consumers and FMCG Brands

The action against Nestlé India and HUL highlights a broader issue in India's packaged food market: consumers need clear, accurate and appropriately supported information to make informed choices.

Health-oriented claims can carry considerable weight, particularly when products are marketed for bone strength, muscle health, pregnancy, infant development or specialised dietary management. Statements about sugar content, vitamin levels and nutritional benefits may influence decisions made by consumers with specific dietary priorities.

This makes transparent labelling more than a technical regulatory requirement. It is an important part of consumer protection.

For brands, the latest notices underline the need to review claims across packaging, advertising and e-commerce platforms. Product descriptions must accurately reflect the relevant product category and composition, while health and nutrition claims must comply with the applicable regulations.

The episode also highlights the importance of distinguishing between an ingredient's presence and a promised health outcome. Consumers may reasonably expect nutritional claims to be clear and meaningful, but the wording used in marketing must meet the relevant legal standards.

For online retailers, consistent product information is equally important. A product's digital description should not create expectations that conflict with its packaging or regulatory classification.

Ultimately, the FSSAI notices serve as a reminder that established brands are also subject to scrutiny over how they communicate with consumers. As India's packaged food and nutrition market evolves, credible labelling, responsible advertising and regulatory compliance will remain central to maintaining consumer confidence.

The next steps will depend on the responses submitted by the companies and any further decisions taken by the food safety authorities. Until then, the allegations should be understood in their proper context: they represent regulatory concerns requiring examination, not a final verdict on every product involved.

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