Govt Asks E-commerce Firms To Remove Bournvita And Similar Beverages From ‘Health Drinks’ Category [Video]

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued a directive to e-commerce platforms, instructing them to remove beverages such as Bournvita from the classification of ‘health drinks’ on their portals and platforms. According to a notification dated April 10, the advisory follows an inquiry conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. The NCPCR concluded that no specific definition of a ‘health drink’ exists under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, and the regulations set forth by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.

The investigation, prompted by concerns over excessive sugar content, found Bournvita to contain sugar levels well beyond acceptable limits, leading to its removal from the ‘health drinks’ category, as reported by news agency IANS.

“All e-commerce companies/portals are hereby advised to remove …