The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to Bharat Hotels Ltd., operator of The Lalit in New Delhi, following the classification of a sample of Nestlé's Low Fat Dairy Whitener as 'unsafe' and 'substandard' following laboratory testing. According to latest reports, the sample was collected from the premises of Bharat Hotels Ltd., which operates The Lalit in Connaught Place, New Delhi. FSSAI has issued directives to immediately prohibit the sale of the product, with the laboratory analysis report provided to the food business operator for necessary action. The regulator provided a copy of the laboratory analysis report to the food business operator and issued a notice to Bharat Hotels Ltd., with the company also being given an opportunity to appeal against the Food Analyst's report under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Nestlé India has strongly defended its product, stating that the 'Low Fat Dairy Whitener' is safe to consume and complies with all applicable regulatory requirements. As reported by ET Now, a Nestlé India spokesperson argued that 'Nestlé Low Fat Dairy Whitener is safe to consume and complies with all applicable regulatory requirements. Phosphorus is a nutrient that occurs naturally in milk and is therefore present in all milk-based products.' The company emphasized that the issue relates to how phosphorus was assessed in the laboratory report, stating that 'FSSAI lab reports reflect total phosphorus against the additive limit, without accounting for the substantial natural phosphorus contribution from milk-based ingredients.' Nestlé further maintained that 'Our product is in full compliance for added phosphorus as per prescribed limits under FSSR including for as consumed basis.'
According to FSSAI's public communication, the regulator has provided an opportunity to appeal against the Food Analyst's report under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI has not publicly specified the particular parameter or contaminant that led to the sample being classified as unsafe and substandard, with the regulator directing the immediate prohibition of sale of the identified product. Nestlé has responded by sharing data relating to other similar milk-based products with the authorities as part of its response to the issue, while maintaining continuous engagement with the authorities as part of the established legal process. The company has been in continuous engagement with the authorities as per due process established under law and has shared data across other same/similar milk-based products in the category to reflect presence of naturally occurring phosphorous.
