Nestle India has issued a statement defending the safety of its Low Fat Dairy Whitener, following a laboratory report from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that declared a sample of the product to be “substandard” and “unsafe.” The controversial sample was collected from the premises of M/s Bharat Hotels Ltd., operating as The Lalit hotel in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Nestle Challenges FSSAI's Phosphorus Assessment
According to Nestle, the FSSAI laboratory's findings relate specifically to the method used for assessing phosphorus levels in the product. A company spokesperson clarified that phosphorus is a naturally occurring nutrient in milk and, consequently, is present in all milk-based products.
“FSSAI lab reports reflect total phosphorus against the additive limit, without accounting for the substantial natural phosphorus contribution from milk-base ingredients,” a Nestle spokesperson stated.
Nestle maintains that its product fully complies with the prescribed limits for added phosphorus under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, both as manufactured and on an as-consumed basis. The company confirmed it has been in ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities, providing data on its products and similar milk-based items in the category to demonstrate the presence of naturally occurring phosphorus.
FSSAI Directs Prohibition of Sale
The FSSAI report, which found the Nestle “Low Fat Dairy Whitener” sample did not meet food safety standards under the FSS Act, 2006, led to immediate action. A copy of the analysis was provided to M/s Bharat Hotels Ltd., which was subsequently directed to immediately prohibit the sale of the identified unsafe food product.
The Food Business Operator (FBO) has also been given an opportunity to appeal against the Food Analyst’s report within the period prescribed by the FSS Act, 2006. An official statement from The Lalit hotel chain regarding the incident has not yet been released.