Have you noticed Bournvita disappearing from the “health drink” section on online shopping sites? This change comes from a recent decision by the Indian government. Let’s understand why this happened.
Background
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, undertook an inquiry as per Section 14 of the CPCR Act. The investigation focused on the classification of beverages under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act) 2006. The conclusion drawn was that there exists no specific definition for ‘health drink’ within the FSS Act 2006 or its associated regulations, as confirmed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.
Confusing Categories for Food Products
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) noticed that many e-commerce websites were listing products under misleading categories. For example, some “proprietary foods” like Bournvita, which are basically mixes with various ingredients, were being sold as “health drinks” or “energy drinks.”
What’s a “Proprietary Food” Anyway?
These are food items that don’t have specific standards set by the FSSAI. While the ingredients themselves might be approved, the final mix might not have gone through the same rigorous checks as standardized food categories.
Why Does This Matter?
The problem lies in the term “health drink.” It’s not actually defined or standardized under Indian food safety laws. This lack of clarity could mislead consumers, especially when it comes to products marketed towards children.
So, What Now?
To ensure transparency and well-informed choices for consumers, the government has asked e-commerce websites to remove drinks and beverages like Bournvita from the “health drink” category. This doesn’t mean Bournvita is unhealthy, but it simply means it can’t be labelled as such on online platforms.
