Food safety and standards regulator FSSAI on Tuesday directed all e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) to properly classify food products sold on their websites.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has determined that food products approved as 'proprietary foods' are sold on e-commerce websites in the category closest to dairy-based beverage mixes, cereal-based beverage mixes or malt-based beverages. He pointed out an example of this. It said it would come under categories such as “health drinks” and “energy drinks.”
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“FSSAI has clarified that the term Health Drink is not defined or standardized anywhere in the FSS Act, 2006 or the rules/regulations framed thereunder. , has recommended that this misclassification be immediately rectified by removing or unlinking it.''The regulatory authority recommends that beverages and beverages in the category of health drinks/energy drinks be listed on the website and that they comply with the appropriate guidelines provided by current legislation. It is necessary to list such products in a specific category.
A “proprietary food” is a food that has not been standardized under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. and food safety and standards (health supplements, nutritional supplements, special dietary foods, foods with special medical purposes, functional foods, novel foods), but with standardized ingredients.
FSSAI further states that the term 'energy drink' is only permitted to be used for products authorized under Food Category System (FCS) 14.1.4.1 and 14.1.4.2 (carbonated and still water-based flavored drinks). He said that it has been standardized under sub-regulations. 2.10.6 (2) of the Food Standards and Food Additives Regulations 2011 (Caffeinated Beverages).
“This corrective action aims to increase clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional characteristics of products and to enable consumers to make informed choices without encountering misleading information. ” he added.
