The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued notices to manufacturers over the labelling and advertising of ready-to-drink dairy beverages. The regulator said it found differences between product packaging and claims made in online advertisements.
FSSAI highlighted coffee-flavoured milk drinks described as flavoured milk on the front of packs but classified as proprietary food elsewhere on the packaging. It said the products fall within the standardised flavoured-milk category and must comply with the corresponding labelling rules.
The companies have been asked to explain why action should not be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Possible regulatory responses include orders to withdraw non-compliant advertising or publish corrective advertisements, depending on the findings after replies are considered.
The notices begin a compliance process rather than conclude it. For consumers, the central issue is whether the product's legally required description, prominent label and promotional claims convey a consistent account of what is being sold.
