Important instructions of FSSAI, ‘Do not sell juice in the name of health or energy drink’
Recently, the trend of ordering everything online, from wear to food, is increasing. Many children have started ordering food items by ignoring the advertisements shown online. Control over this most food safety process seems necessary. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken important steps in this regard. Accordingly, manufacturers have to take special care when selling health drinks.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued important instructions to all e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs). Accordingly, they have been asked to appropriately classify the food products sold on their websites, food products licensed under the Proprietary Food category as dairy-based beverage mix or cereal-based beverage mix or malt-based beverage mix. Being sold under close category. You must have seen energy drinks being sold in the name of ‘health drinks’ on e-commerce websites. All this affects the health of consumers. Therefore, this important step has been taken as consumers need to be aware about such products.
Misleading consumers?
There is confusion in the minds of consumers regarding health drinks and energy drinks on e-commerce websites. There are many complaints that companies are unknowingly trying to mislead consumers. The term ‘health drink’ has not been defined or standardized anywhere under the FSS Act 2006 or the rules/regulations made thereunder. It has been found that many ecommerce companies are taking advantage of this. In this background FSSAI has issued a notification for all e-commerce FBOs. There is an important law for this. FSSAI said in its instructions, ‘Do not sell juice in the name of health or energy drink.’
‘Proprietary foods are not certified’
E-commerce websites should immediately correct the misclassification between health drinks and energy drinks. Such beverages have been directed to be removed or separated from the ‘Health Drinks/Energy Drinks’ category on their website. Place such products in the appropriate category provided under existing laws, it also states that ‘Proprietary Foods’ are food items not certified under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Production Standards and Food Additives) Regulations.
Consumers should be able to make the right choice’
It aims to increase clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional properties of products. Apart from this, customers will be able to choose the right and desired option without getting misled, the notification said.
