The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued a directive to e-commerce companies, instructing them to remove all drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the category of ‘health drinks’ on their platforms.
In a notification dated April 10, the ministry stated, “National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under Section (3) of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no ‘health drink’ defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.”
This advisory follows an investigation by the NCPCR, which revealed that Bournvita contains sugar levels significantly exceeding acceptable limits.
Earlier, the NCPCR had urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take action against companies that failed to comply with safety standards and guidelines, and were marketing power supplements as ‘health drinks’.
It is worth noting that according to the regulatory body, ‘health drink’ is not defined in the country’s food laws, and categorizing a product as such violates regulations. Earlier this month, the FSSAI also instructed e-commerce platforms to refrain from labeling dairy-based or malt-based beverages as ‘health drinks’.
The controversy surrounding the alleged health risks of Bournvita surfaced after a YouTuber criticized the powder supplement in a video, highlighting its excessive sugar, cocoa solids, and harmful colorants, which he claimed could pose serious health risks to children, including cancer.