The End of 'Health Drinks'
The most significant change is the FSSAI's directive against using the term 'health drink'. The regulator has stated that this term is not defined under Indian food laws and can therefore be misleading. For years, products like malt and cereal-based beverage
mixes have been sold under this banner. Now, e-commerce platforms have been instructed to remove these products from the 'health drinks' category and classify them more accurately, for instance, as a 'dairy-based beverage mix' or 'cereal-based beverage mix'. This follows concerns that such branding gives a false impression of nutritional superiority. Similarly, the term 'energy drink' is now restricted to caffeinated beverages that meet specific standards, forcing many brands to rethink their labels.
Just How Much Juice Is in Your Juice?
The battle over labels has also reached the juice aisle. The FSSAI recently cracked down on companies claiming their products are '100% fruit juice'. The regulator clarified that many of these products are made from reconstituted concentrate, meaning water has been added back to a fruit concentrate. While not illegal, calling it '100% juice' is considered misleading. New rules mandate that labels must clearly state 'reconstituted' in the ingredient list. Furthermore, if a drink contains less than 10% fruit juice, it must be labelled as a 'carbonated beverage with fruit juice' or a 'fruit drink', not juice. This forces a clearer distinction between beverages that are mostly juice and those that are mostly sugar and water.
A Crackdown on Misleading Adjectives
The FSSAI's scrutiny extends beyond specific categories to the very words used to sell products. In recent months, it has issued notices to multiple companies for using terms like 'healthy', 'natural', and 'vegan' without proper justification. For example, a cooking oil brand named 'Healthy & Tasty' was flagged for potentially misleading consumers. A snack company selling veggie and dal chips as 'healthy' was questioned, given the other ingredients involved. Even products claiming to be 'Zero Maida' have come under fire. This broader action is rooted in the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, which prohibit any label that is false, misleading, or likely to create an 'erroneous impression' about the product's true nature.
Why This Matters for Your Health
These regulatory shifts are part of a larger push to combat rising public health concerns in India, including obesity and diabetes. Misleading labels can trick consumers into believing a product is healthier than it is, encouraging overconsumption of sugar, fat, and salt. By forcing companies to be more transparent, the FSSAI aims to empower consumers to make genuinely informed choices based on ingredients, not just catchy marketing. This drive for transparency has also extended to alcoholic beverages, where the regulator has recently taken action against brands for using artificial flavours to mimic the taste of rum and whisky and for making misleading age claims.
Your Practical Guide to the New Labels
So, what does this mean for your next trip to the grocery store? First, be sceptical of front-of-pack claims. Words like 'healthy', 'pure', or 'natural' are now under intense scrutiny. Second, always turn the package over and read the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few items make up the bulk of the product. Look for the percentage of key ingredients, like fruit in a juice. Finally, understand the new categories. A 'cereal-based beverage mix' is not a 'health drink', and a 'fruit drink' is not 'fruit juice'. This small shift in wording signifies a big difference in content. The FSSAI has also launched digital tools for consumers to report misleading labels, making you a part of the enforcement process.
