The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has directed e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the category of 'health drinks' on their platforms. This decision follows an inquiry by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which found that there is no specific definition of "health drink" under the FSS Act 2006, rules, and regulations.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had previously instructed e-commerce platforms to ensure proper categorization of food products on their websites. It noted instances where products licensed under categories like Dairy-Based Beverage Mix, Cereal Based Beverage Mix, and Malt Based Beverage were being sold under the misleading category of 'health drink' or 'energy drink'.
FSSAI clarified that 'health drink' is not a defined or standardized term under the FSS Act 2006 or its regulations. As a result, e-commerce companies were advised to rectify this misclassification by removing such products from the 'health drinks/energy drinks' category and placing them in the appropriate category as per the law.
'Proprietary foods' refer to items that are not standardized in food safety regulations but use standardized ingredients. The corrective action aims to provide clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional properties of products, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices without encountering misleading information.
