FSSAI questions immunity and digestibility claims for infant formula

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to a global food company over claims made for its NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 infant formula, which is an infant starter milk formula designed for babies from birth up to 6 months of age when they are not breastfed. FSSAI considered the claim “5 HMOs helps support normal immune system” potentially contrary to Regulation 10(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, which prohibits claims linking food suitability to preventing, alleviating, treating or curing a disease, disorder or particular physiological condition unless specifically permitted.