The Indian government has directed e-commerce companies to remove all drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the "health drinks" category on their websites. This action follows an inquiry by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which found that the term "health drink" is not defined under food safety regulations in India.
Previously, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had also advised e-commerce platforms to ensure proper categorization of food products. The FSSAI noted that certain beverages licensed as "proprietary foods" were being misleadingly sold under the "health drink" or "energy drink" labels on e-commerce websites.
The FSSAI clarified that "health drink" is not a standardized term and advised e-commerce platforms to recategorize these beverages appropriately. This move aims to improve transparency for consumers and prevent them from being misled by inaccurate labeling.