Nestle's low-fat dairy whitener sample found 'unsafe' in India, says regulator

On Saturday, India's food safety regulator announced that a sample of Nestle's low-fat dairy whitener collected from the Lalit hotel in New Delhi was deemed "unsafe" and "substandard." The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) disclosed the finding on their social media platform X, stating that laboratory analysis revealed the product to be non-compliant with regulations. The hotel was subsequently instructed to cease selling the item immediately. The regulatory body did not disclose the full report.

Nestle India refuted the claim, asserting that the product is safe to consume and adheres to all applicable regulations. They argued that the FSSAI report incorrectly compared total phosphorus levels with the limit for added phosphorus, neglecting to consider the naturally occurring phosphorus in milk-based ingredients. A Nestle India spokesperson explained that the company is cooperating with the authorities and has supplied data on similar milk-based products to demonstrate the presence of naturally occurring phosphorus.

The FSSAI has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment on Nestle's statement, while the Lalit hotel has not provided a response to a request for comment. In September, the regulator had found a Nestle baby food sample to be substandard, initiating legal proceedings against the Swiss food giant in one of its most significant growth markets. Nestle subsequently claimed that its products were "fully compliant with all the applicable regulations."