A MUCH NEEDED MOVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed ecommerce platforms to refrain from labeling dairy-based, cereal-based, or malt-based beverages as ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink’. This comes as the terms ‘health drink’ and ‘energy drink’ are not defined in the country’s food laws, leading to potential consumer confusion. FSSAI emphasized that ‘energy drink’ specifically applies to flavored water-based drinks, whether carbonated or non-carbonated. Incorrect labeling could mislead consumers, prompting the authority to advise ecommerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) to rectify this by removing such drinks from the ‘Health Drinks / Energy Drinks’ categories. By clarifying these terms, FSSAI aims to ensure transparency and clarity in product descriptions, enabling consumers to make well-informed choices. The move follows concerns over the rising consumption of energy drinks, particularly among youth, and associated health risks, prompting the need for accurate labeling and consumer awareness campaigns.
