NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to several beverage companies for alleged misbranding and making misleading claims by marketing their products as “energy drinks”.In a post on X, the food regulator said it had “issued notices to several beverage brands claiming to be ‘energy drinks’ for misbranding and misleading claims.”According to the FSSAI, “FSSAI has not notified any standard for ‘Energy Drink’ or similar products.” The regulator also clarified that the Food Category System under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, “is not intended for product naming or labelling purposes.”The regulator said food companies cannot make functional or therapeutic claims related to boosting energy, improving focus or addressing general weakness unless specifically permitted under the law.For products such as Hell Energy Drink and Adrenaline Rush Energy Drink, the FSSAI said claims relating to “boosting energy,” “enhancing focus,” and “aiding general weakness” are “not permissible for food products under the FSS Act 2006 and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder.”In the case of Red Bull Energy Drink, the regulator objected to claims such as “vitalizes body and mind,” “enhancing focus,” “boost energy levels,” and “aid in general weakness,” saying such functional or therapeutic claims are not permitted for food products.Similarly, for Sting Energy Drink, the FSSAI said claims including “stimulates mind energizes body,” “enhancing focus,” “boost energy levels,” and “aid in general weakness” violate provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.The action comes as the food regulator steps up scrutiny of product branding and labelling practices to ensure consumers are not misled and that companies do not imply regulatory recognition where none exists.Meanwhile, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the state would soon issue a fresh order to tighten enforcement against the sale of prohibited products near schools and introduce food standards for educational institutions.“I will issue a detailed order about prohibited items like gutkha and cigarettes being sold near schools in the coming days. Along with the FDA, it is also the responsibility of school principals to ensure such prohibited items are not sold within a 500-metre radius. I also appeal to parents to sensitise their children not to consume so-called energy drinks,” Mundhe told reporters.He said the FDA would issue food standards for schools within the next eight to ten days, covering food quality, nutritional standards and recommended diets for students.Referring to the FSSAI’s June 30 order, Mundhe said companies can no longer market their beverages as “energy drinks” because no such category exists under the regulator’s classification system.“There are some 10-12 companies in the country that have been issued notices by the FSSAI asking them not to describe their products as ‘energy drink’,” he said.Mundhe also said the Maharashtra FDA has recommended 25 reforms to strengthen food safety enforcement by tracing adulteration to its source instead of merely testing samples and taking action afterwards. He clarified that there is no ban on the sale of raw milk, but vendors must comply with all prescribed norms and regulations.
