A sample of Nestle Low Fat Dairy Whitener collected from The Lalit hotel in New Delhi has been declared “unsafe” and “substandard” by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which directed an immediate halt to sales of the product, Reuters reported on October 3.
Laboratory Analysis Findings at The Lalit in New Delhi
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India posted on X that laboratory analysis found the sample non-compliant under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, according to Hindustan Times. The sample was drawn specifically from the premises of M/s Bharat Hotels Ltd., operating as The Lalit in Connaught Place, India Today reported. Following the test results, authorities issued a notice to the hotel operator and provided a copy of the laboratory analysis report for reference and necessary action, as noted by The News Mill.
Nestle India Responds to Regulatory Action
Nestle India maintained that the product is safe to consume and fully compliant with all applicable regulatory requirements. The company stated that the FSSAI laboratory report compared total phosphorus against the limit for added phosphorus without accounting for the phosphorus naturally present in milk-based ingredients, as reported by Reuters. Nestle stated that it has been engaging with authorities through due process and has shared data on similar milk-based products to demonstrate the presence of naturally occurring phosphorus, according to ANI inputs cited by Hindustan Times.
Prior Regulatory Actions and Scrutiny
This enforcement action follows a separate ruling in September, when the food safety regulator announced it had found a Nestle baby food sample to be substandard and stated it was pursuing legal action against the Swiss food giant in India, one of its biggest growth markets, according to Reuters. At that time, Nestle stated that its products were fully compliant with all applicable regulations.
Nestle defends dairy whitener after laboratory report declares sample unsafe
Why was the Nestle dairy whitener declared unsafe?
The FSSAI stated that a Food Analyst’s laboratory report found the sample collected from The Lalit hotel in New Delhi to be non-compliant under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What is Nestle India’s defense regarding the test results?
Nestle India stated that the laboratory report measured total phosphorus against the limit for added phosphorus without adjusting for phosphorus that occurs naturally in milk-based ingredients.
What are the next regulatory steps for the hotel and manufacturer?
Authorities directed the hotel operator to immediately stop selling the identified product and provided a copy of the laboratory report, allowing an opportunity to appeal within the prescribed period under the food safety law.