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FSSAI to set regulations for energy/sports drinks
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Wednesday, 03 February, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Much to the relief of implementing agencies like the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration) Maharashtra, the FSSAI (The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has proposed to define the limits on the caffeine content in energy drinks, which is linked to several health ailments and addiction among the youth.
In the earlier Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, the prescription on level of the caffeine was restricted to the carbonated drinks, allowing the energy drink manufacturers chance upon the loophole in the law and present their food as proprietary food item instead of carbonated drinks. However, now the FSSAI , which is an autonomous body administered by the ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is in the process of defining standards for the sports and the energy drinks as well.
Apart from already exisiting energy drinks in the market like the Cloud 9, Red Bull, Fighter and SoBe Adrenaline Rush Maximum Energy, Pepsi has Gatorade and recntly come up with Sobeys and the Coca Cola has launched Burn, in India.
The total market for energy drinks is pegged at around Rs 200 crore. These drinks though primarily seen as energy boosters are linked with diseases like hypertension and are believed to have narcotic effects, if the level of caffeine exceeds 150-200 parts per million. It is harmful for kids and women and the intoxication level doubles if mixed with alcohol. The youth are being drawn towards addiction of these drinks, confirms an FDA official. DS Chadha, senior technical advisor, CII (Confederation of Indian Industries), also supports the defining of standards for products like health drinks, supplements and GMO Foods.
Interestingly, last year the FDA Maharashtra had launched prosecution against Red Bull and Fighter Energy Drink for defying the caffeine law as prescribed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. Then the manufacturers had presented their products as proprietary food items and not as carbonated drinks. Thankfully, with the FSSAI setting up rules the manufacturers will no longer be able to bully the implementing agencies.
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