E-commerce Platforms Remove Drinks from "Healthy Drinks" Category
Following a directive from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, e-commerce platforms in India have removed drinks and beverages from the "healthy drinks" category. This move comes amidst concerns about the lack of a clear definition for "health drinks" in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently asked e-commerce platforms to refrain from labelling dairy, cereal, or malt-based beverages as "health drinks" or "energy drinks" to prevent consumer confusion and misleading advertising. This action follows concerns raised about high sugar levels in beverages, particularly in products like Bournvita.
The government's notification stated that all e-commerce companies/portals should remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the "health drinks" category on their sites. This decision comes after Bournvita faced controversy last year due to allegations of high sugar content by a social media influencer.
Mondelez India, the parent company of Bournvita, issued a legal notice to the influencer to remove the video. However, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) requested the brand to retract all misleading packaging, advertising, and labels.
A recent study by Swiss NGO Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) found significant disparities in the sugar content of Nestle's infant products across multiple countries. The study claimed that Nestle's items in South Asian (including India), African, and Latin American markets exhibit substantially higher sugar content compared to those available in Europe.
Nestle issued a clarification stating that their infant cereal products are manufactured to ensure the appropriate delivery of nutritional requirements and that they never compromise on the nutritional quality of their products. They leverage their extensive global research and development network to enhance the nutritional profile of their products.