Red Bull has approached the Delhi High Court challenging a decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FSSAI) to remove the "energy drink" claim.

Red Bull moves Delhi High Court challenging FSSAI order

For the past several days, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been taking swift action against food, beverages, and their packaging. Food department teams are conducting raids at various locations and exposing companies' dishonesty. In this connection, the department recently confiscated Red Bull's stock.

Following this, the company has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging an FSSAI order requiring it to remove the "energy drink" description from its packaging.

The matter reached the Delhi High Court
. Justice Amit Mahajan heard the case on Monday. During the hearing, the court sought clarification from FSSAI as to whether a show-cause notice was issued to Red Bull before issuing the order and whether they were given an opportunity to present their case.

Not only this, the court also questioned the need for immediate action without hearing the company's side and asked FSSAI to seek instructions in the matter. The next hearing in the case will be on September 29. No interim relief was granted to Red Bull during Monday's proceedings.

What's in the petition?
According to the petition, Red Bull has been selling its energy drink products in India since 2002. The company alleges that the June 30th directive was issued without prior notice or a hearing. The company also claims that the subsequent communication in July led to enforcement action, resulting in the seizure of its products at several locations across the country.

The company has questioned the basis for the FSSAI's change in stance, citing a March 2024 advisory that clarified the use of the term "energy drink" for products falling under the applicable food category for caffeinated beverages.