Govt asks e-commerce websites to remove Bournvita from 'healthy drinks' section

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), earlier this month, had asked e-commerce websites not to put dairy, cereal, or malt-based beverages under the ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink’ categories.

In a setback for Bournvita and other brands, the ministry of commerce and industry on April 10 asked all the e-commerce websites to remove drinks and beverages from “healthy drinks” category on their platforms.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) concluded that there is no "health drink defined under the FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl & Mondelez India".

“NCPCR, a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CPCR Act, 2005, concluded that there is no "Health Drink defined under FSS Act 2006, Rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd," a notification issued by the ministry said.

It further added that “all e-commerce companies/portals are hereby advised to remove drink/beverages, including Bournvita from the category of "health drinks" from their sites/platforms, the notification issued on April 10 said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), earlier this month, had asked e-commerce websites not to put dairy, cereal, or malt-based beverages under the ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink’ categories. The body reasoned that the term 'health drink' is not defined in the food laws of India, while 'energy drinks' are just flavored water-based drinks under the laws. Moreover, FSSAI said using wrong terms can mislead the consumer and therefore asked the websites to either remove or rectify the ads.

Last month, NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo had written to the commerce ministry, FSSAI and the department of consumer affairs of various state government and Union Territories and said drink beverage, including Bourvita should not be sold under the ‘health drink’ category, according to a report by Times of India.