The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed all e-commerce companies not to label dairy-based beverages, cereal-based beverages, or malt-based beverages as ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink‘. The term ‘health drink’ is not defined under the country’s food laws, and ‘energy drink’ specifically refers to carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavored drinks as per the regulations.
Using incorrect terms may lead to “misleading” consumers. Therefore, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended that all e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) promptly correct this misclassification by removing or delinking such drinks or beverages from the categories of ‘Health Drinks / Energy Drinks,’ as stated by the food regulator in a statement.
FSSAI has clarified that the term ‘Health Drink’ is neither defined nor standardized under the FSS Act 2006 or the rules and regulations governing the food industry.
The term ‘Energy Drinks’ is allowed to be used only for products such as carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavored drinks.
Snackfax previously reported that FSSAI is considering stricter regulations for caffeine energy drinks due to their increasing sales.
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“The corrective action is intended to improve clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional properties of the products, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices without being misled,” the statement added.
Companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Hell are selling energy drinks at approximately one-fourth the price of global category leaders like Red Bull and Monster. They have also popularized these drinks by selling them in grocery stores. According to company executives citing data from NielsenIQ, energy drink sales are growing at a rate of 50-55% per year.
However, the increasing consumption of these drinks, especially among young people, is a concern, as studies indicate potential health risks from excessive intake.
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