Food safety authority bans Nestle dairy whitener at luxury Delhi hotel

Food safety authorities banned the sale of a popular dairy product at a prominent hotel in the capital after lab tests found it unsafe.

Details and Reaction

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued a notice against Nestle's Low Fat Dairy Whitener after testing a sample collected from M/s Bharat Hotels Ltd, known as The Lalit, in New Delhi. Food analyst reports declared the sample both unsafe and substandard under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. Clinical nutritionist and diabetes educator Kanikka Malhotra noted that dairy whiteners are processed items rather than pure milk, warning that people should watch their intake, especially when consuming multiple cups daily. Malhotra explained that additive phosphates used as stabilisers are absorbed almost completely by the human body compared to natural nutrients. She added that high phosphate levels can pose risks for people whose kidneys are already under strain or those dealing with diabetes. Meanwhile, Nestle stated that its product complies with standards and that the lab reading reflects total phosphorus which includes natural milk content.

Context

Food safety regulators routinely test food samples from hotels and restaurants to check compliance with national health standards. Processed food items often contain various additives to improve shelf life and texture that undergo strict regulatory scrutiny.