The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified the classification of some food goods, primarily health and energy drinks, on e-commerce platforms. It has been observed that items licenced under ‘Proprietary Food’ are labelled as ‘Health Drinks’ or ‘Energy Drinks’, confusing consumers.
Key points to note
- Definition of Energy Drinks: The FSSAI allows the word “Energy Drinks” to refer to items licenced under FCS 14.1.4.1 and 14.1.4.2, which comprise carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavoured beverages.
- Absence of Standardisation for Health Drinks: Unlike energy beverages, there is no specified standard for “Health Drinks” under the FSS Act 2006 or its rules.
- Advisory for E-Commerce Platforms: The FSSAI advises all e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) against categorising products covered by the FSS Act 2006 as health or energy beverages. Instead, things should be placed in proper categories as per the existing regulations.
Impact of Consumers
- This clarification aims to enhance transparency and clarity in product labeling, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices without being misled by incorrect categorization.
