FSSAI issues notices to Red Bull, PepsiCo India, Campa, other brands over 'energy drink' claims
New Delhi, July 2
Food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued notices to beverage brands over use of term 'energy drink' and alleged misleading claims on product labels, saying no standard has been notified for such products under the food safety regulations.
In a post on Instagram, the food regulator said it had served notices to brands -- Red Bull Energy Drink, Hell Energy (Hell Energy Private Limited), Campa Energy Drink, Monster Energy, PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited's Adrenaline Rush and Sting -- over alleged misbranding and labelling violations.
According to FSSAI, no standard has been notified for energy drinks or similar products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the rules and regulations framed under it.
The regulator also clarified that the Food Category System under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, is not intended to be used for product naming or labelling purposes.
FSSAI further said functional or therapeutic claims such as boost energy levels, enhancing focus, vitalises body and mind, stimulates mind, energises body, aid in general weakness and similar claims are not permissible for food products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The regulator further alleged that the brands had marketed and labelled their products using descriptors such as energy drink while making claims that are not permitted under the existing regulatory framework.
The notices form part of FSSAI's ongoing efforts to curb misbranding and misleading claims in the food and beverage sector and ensure that product labels comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.
Earlier in June, the regulator issued notices to several food business operators (FBOs) for alleged violations related to misleading product claims, branding and labelling practices, as well as consumer complaints, and directed them to take corrective measures.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a college student, these drinks are life savers during exam season, but I never trusted the claims fully. They make you feel active for an hour, then you crash. FSSAI is right to call out the misleading marketing. Let's see if Pepsi and Red Bull can defend their labels now.
Good move by FSSAI. In the US, energy drinks are regulated as supplements, but here they're sold as food. It's confusing and dangerous. I hope India adopts stricter rules soon. We need transparency—people actually believe these drinks give health benefits when they really just have high caffeine.
I'm a runner and I use these sometimes before races, but the claims like "vitalises body and mind" are hilarious. Just call it what it is—a sugary caffeinated beverage. FSSAI is spot on. But I worry these companies will just rebrand instead of changing their formulas.
My brother drinks Sting daily and thinks it's healthy because it says "energy drink." This is why regulation matters. FSSAI should also educate the public about these products. A notice is good, but fines or bans would have more impact.
Respect to FSSAI for cracking down. I've always felt these drinks are overpriced sugar bombs. But I do wonder—why now? These brands have been making these claims for years. Better late than never, I guess. Hope this leads to clear labeling standards.
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