Now Reading: FSSAI rejects extension for energy drink label deadline
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FSSAI rejects extension for energy drink label deadline
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has refused to extend its 90-day deadline for beverage companies like PepsiCo, Red Bull, Monster Beverage and Reliance to drop the term “energy…
The Story in Brief
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has refused to extend its 90-day deadline for beverage companies like PepsiCo, Red Bull, Monster Beverage and Reliance to drop the term “energy drink” from high-caffeine products. Companies had sought a year to comply, citing millions of cans already in the market. A government source told Reuters the firms “should be happy not being prosecuted” for breaching regulations. Some states, including Rajasthan and Ladakh, have begun seizing stock. Industry executives recently met Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan to seek support. India’s energy drink market grew 12.6% annually to 907 million litres in 2023.
The Indian Opinion
The usual corporate narrative casts the regulator as unreasonable. But FSSAI has a point: Indian standards do not recognise the term “energy drink”, and companies have been flouting labelling rules for years. The claim that millions of cans are in the pipeline is a genuine logistical headache, but the industry has not shared state-wise inventory data. If the products are safe, why fight the label change? The real test is whether state-level seizures will continue uniformly, or if political pressure will create a backdoor deal.
Sources (3): livemint.com, retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com, ndtvprofit.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
