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P. T. Jyothi Datta

Mumbai , April 11

THERE has been a slight twist in the baby oil tale. Dabur India has been issued a notice by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Dabur Baby Olive Oil.

But this is different from the FDA's slew of recent notices to companies whose baby oils contain paraffin oil, reportedly unfit for babies. Dabur's baby oil is from a natural source and hence is clear on that count. The FDA, however, has asked the company for the list of ingredients in its Baby Olive Oil product.

Dabur has two baby oils, Dabur Lal Tail and Dabur Baby Olive Oil, in its portfolio. Dabur Baby Olive Oil, the product regarding which the notice was received, is manufactured and imported from the company's subsidiary in Nepal.

Confirming the receipt of the notice, Mr Sunil Duggal, Dabur India's Chief Executive Officer, told Business Line that they were in the process of drafting a reply. He pointed out that both the baby oils are safe. The oils contain pure vegetable oil, he reiterated.

He said that the company is listing the ingredients on the baby product in line with requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. However, he indicated that Dabur would be willing to list all ingredients in the baby oil, since it is about something as sensitive as a baby's skin.

Since mid-March, the FDA has put baby-oils from several companies on its watch-list, including products from Johnson and Johnson, Wipro, Himalaya and Emami. With these companies being asked to respond on the ingredients in their products, industry representatives point out that it could all boil down to labelling.

Baby products need to be handled with sensitivity and worldwide, they are put through stringent quality tests. If products promise benefits, specifically for babies, then they would have to give a list of the ingredients on their packs, an industry representative agreed. Meanwhile, the FDA expects to complete its investigations shortly and put the baby oil issue to sleep.

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