Do you also drink energy drinks? FSSAI has issued notices to companies like Red Bull, Sting, and Monster for misleading advertising and false claims. Find out what the full story is.
FSSAI Notice
Many popular beverages sold by companies under the name Energy Drinks are now under scrutiny. Food safety regulator FSSAI has issued notices to several major brands, including Red Bull, Sting, Monster, Campa Energy, Hell Energy, Adrenaline Rush, and Gold Boost. It is alleged that the companies are misleading customers through their product branding and claims.
After all, what does FSSAI object to?
FSSAI states that there is no official food category or separate standard for the term "Energy Drink" in India. This means that simply selling or promoting a product as "Energy Drink" is not considered compliant. The regulator states that the food category system is for administrative classification only. It cannot be used as a product name or marketing term.
Which brands received the notice?
The brands receiving the notice include Red Bull, Sting, Monster Energy, Campa Energy, Adrenaline Rush, Hell Energy, and Gold Boost. FSSAI says these products are labeled "Energy Drink" on their packaging. In some cases, they are also being promoted under the same name on e-commerce platforms.
Not just the name, questions are also raised on the claims.
FSSAI has objected not only to the term "energy drink," but also to claims that the drink increases energy, improves focus, or alleviates weakness. The regulator states that such functional or therapeutic claims for food products are not permissible under the regulations unless they have regulatory approval.
What does this mean to you?
This notice does not mean that the sale of these products has been banned. Currently, FSSAI has sought responses from the companies and directed them to comply with the labeling and marketing regulations. The current question is the names and claims of the companies selling their products, not whether these products can be sold in the market.
What will happen next?
All eyes will now be on the companies' responses. If FSSAI finds their responses unsatisfactory, further regulatory action may be taken. Currently, there has been no official response from the companies on this matter.
