The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Dr Reddy’s, Nestlé Health Science, Tirupati Wellness, Amazon, Flipkart and Netmeds over allegedly misleading claims made in the marketing of products positioned around protein intake and muscle health.
The regulator said the notices relate to claims concerning high protein content, maintenance of lean muscle mass, muscle strength, immunity support and energy metabolism.
According to FSSAI, some of these claims were presented on product packaging in a manner that could potentially mislead consumers about the actual health benefits of the products.
The companies have been asked to explain why regulatory action should not be initiated against them over the claims and the manner in which they were communicated to consumers.
The action comes amid increased scrutiny by FSSAI of nutritional and health-related claims used to market food and wellness products. The regulator has been examining whether claims made on labels and promotional material are adequately supported and comply with applicable food safety and labelling regulations.
The latest notices also bring major e-commerce platforms into the regulatory spotlight, as Amazon, Flipkart and Netmeds were among the entities named by FSSAI in connection with the products carrying the flagged claims.
FSSAI’s action underscores the regulator’s focus on ensuring that consumers are not given an exaggerated impression of the nutritional or health benefits of products through packaging and marketing claims.