The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently issued a directive to e-commerce companies, instructing them to reclassify all beverages, including Bournvita, from the 'health drinks' category on their platforms.
According to a notification dated April 10, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body established under Section 3 of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, conducted an inquiry under Section 14 of the CRPC Act 2005. The conclusion drawn from this inquiry stated that there is no clear definition of 'health drink' under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, as per the rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.
The advisory follows an investigation by the NCPCR, which revealed that Bournvita contains sugar levels exceeding acceptable limits.
Earlier, the NCPCR had urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take action against companies that failed to meet safety standards and guidelines and were promoting power supplements as 'health drinks'.
It's worth noting that according to regulatory authorities, the term 'health drink' lacks a clear definition in the country's food laws, and categorizing products as such contravenes regulations. The FSSAI, in a move earlier this month, also directed e-commerce platforms to refrain from labeling dairy-based or malt-based beverages as 'health drinks'.
The debate surrounding the allegedly 'unhealthy' nature of Bournvita surfaced after a YouTuber criticized the powdered supplement in a video, highlighting excessive sugar, cocoa solids, and harmful colorants that could pose serious health risks to children, including cancer.
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