The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent notices to alcoholic beverage makers for not complying with rules on added flavors and misleading age-related claims. Manufacturers of alcoholic drinks must explain why they should not face action for breaching regulations. Some brands were found adding flavors directly to products like rum, brandy, whisky, gin, wine, and beer, going against the requirement for these drinks to have their genuine taste and aroma.
The FSSAI observed that manufacturers were using misleading language and indirect terms related to age that do not meet the regulations. Guidelines mandate that any age mentioned on the label must only refer to the youngest spirit used in the blend. Recently, the FSSAI introduced clearer regulations for the Indian liquor industry through the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) First Amendment Regulations. These rules include displaying mandatory statutory warnings in a specific square-shaped box format.
In a related development, the FSSAI also issued notices to six major beverage brands, such as Red Bull and PepsiCo, for allegedly mislabeling non-alcoholic drinks as “energy drinks.” The notices were for “misbranding and misleading claims.” The brands identified by the FSSAI included Red Bull Energy Drink, PepsiCo’s Adrenaline Rush Energy Drink and Sting Energy Drink, Reliance Consumer Products’ Campa Energy Drink – Gold Boost, Coca-Cola-backed Monster Energy, and Hell Energy.
The FSSAI clarified that it has not set any standard for “energy drink” or similar products. Despite this, the brands have been promoted as “energy drinks” on packaging, labeling, and online platforms. The FSSAI emphasized that making functional or therapeutic claims like vitalizing the body and mind, enhancing focus, boosting energy levels, or aiding in general weakness is not allowed for food products under the FSS Act 2006 and its related Rules and Regulations.
