The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has asked all e-commerce websites to remove drinks containing Bornvita from the healthy drinks category on their portals.
“The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), after investigation under Section 14 of the CRPC Act, 2005, has determined that “healthy drinks” as defined in the FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd. concluded that it does not exist. ” the ministry said in its order dated April 10, 2024.
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The order further reads: “All e-commerce companies/portals are advised to remove drinks containing Bornvita from the health drinks category from their platforms.”
The order also comes after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advised e-commerce platforms to ensure that dairy-based drink mixes, cereal-based drink mixes or malt-based drink mixes like Bornvita are not available. It took place a few days later. “Health Drinks” or “Energy Drinks” category.
Food safety regulators have reiterated that “energy drinks” are permitted to be used in carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavored drinks. Furthermore, “health drink” is not defined anywhere in the 2006 FSS Act.
“This measure will increase clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional characteristics of products, allowing consumers to make informed choices without misleading information,” FSSAI said.
Social media influencer Levanto Himatzynka, who goes by the name Food Farmer on Instagram, first raised the alarm about the issue in April 2023. In a reel he posted on Instagram, he highlighted Bornvita's high sugar content and questioned its market position as a “health drink.”
