written by Recent scrutiny by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) highlights the mislabelling of certain food products on e-commerce platforms, particularly those falling under the classification of ‘Proprietary Food’, such as Dairy Beverage Mix, Cereal Beverage Mix, or Malt Beverage Mix.
FSSAI’s Clarification:
The FSSAI clarifies that the term ‘Energy Drink’ is permitted for products licensed under specific regulations, primarily focusing on carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks.
However, ‘Health drink’ is not defined or standardized under the FSS Act 2006 or any associated rules/regulations.
Therefore, for transparency and consumer clarity, all e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBO) are advised to adhere to these regulations by refraining from categorising such products under ‘Health Drinks/Energy Drinks’.
NCPCR’s Recommendations:
The NCPCR echoes this sentiment, emphasising that the term ‘health drink’ finds no mention in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
They have urged the Department of Consumer Affairs of all states and Union Territories to ensure that no drinks or beverages, including popular products like Bournvita, are sold under the misleading category of ‘health drink’.
Additionally, they have requested the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to direct e-commerce companies to rectify the categorisation of these products on their platforms.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the collaborative efforts of regulatory bodies like FSSAI and NCPCR aim to safeguard consumer interests by ensuring accurate categorization of food products and preventing misleading information that could impact consumer choices, especially concerning the health of children.
Sources:
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