New Delhi
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged all e-commerce platforms selling food products to correctly classify items and refrain from using misleading terms like Health Drink and Energy Drink to boost sales.
FSSAI noticed that some food products categorized as Proprietary Food were being labeled as Health Drink or Energy Drink on e-commerce websites. However, FSSAI clarified that these terms are not defined or standardized under the law. Therefore, it instructed e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) to rectify this misclassification by placing such products in appropriate categories like Dairy Based Beverage Mix or Cereal Based Beverage Mix.
This corrective measure aims to ensure transparency and help consumers make informed choices. Energy Drink term is only permitted for products under specific categories, as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations.
FSSAI clarified that Proprietary Foods are those not standardized under regulations but use standardized ingredients. The statement emphasized the importance of accurate classification to avoid misleading consumers and ensure product clarity.
