E-commerce Platforms Must Remove “Health Drink” Label for Bournvita and Similar Products

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has directed all e-commerce websites to remove drinks like Bournvita from the “Health Drinks” category. This follows an inquiry by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which found no definition for “Health Drink” under Indian food regulations.

The NCPCR, a government body for child protection, investigated the labelling of Bournvita and similar products. Their inquiry concluded that the term “Health Drink” is not defined within the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act) or its regulations.

Following the NCPCR’s findings, the Ministry issued a notification on April 10th. This notification instructs e-commerce companies to remove all drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the “Health Drinks” category on their platforms.

This action aligns with a previous directive from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on April 2nd. The FSSAI had advised e-commerce platforms against categorizing dairy, cereal, or malt-based beverages as “Health Drinks” or “Energy Drinks”. The FSSAI clarified that “Energy Drinks” can only be used for licensed, carbonated, or non-carbonated flavored water-based beverages.

These actions aim to improve transparency for consumers. By removing misleading labels, consumers can make informed choices about the products they purchase.