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FSSAI widens crackdown on misbranding
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Thursday, 09 July, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched an enforcement action against prominent beverage manufacturers, issuing non-compliance notices to major brands for misbranding and misleading advertising.
The regulatory body targeted six products: Monster Energy, Campa Energy Drink – Gold Boost, Hell Energy Drink, Red Bull Energy Drink, Sting Energy Drink, and PepsiCo's Adrenaline Rush Energy Drink.
According to public disclosures issued by the FSSAI, the crackdown addresses unauthorised marketing descriptions and unsubstantiated health claims printed on packaging and product branding across retail and e-commerce platforms.
The FSSAI clarified that it has not notified or recognised any official food standard for an "Energy Drink" or similar category under Indian food safety regulations.
While manufacturers rely on the descriptor "energy drink" to market their beverages, the food authority underscored that the administrative Food Category System outlined in national food regulations is designed for classification purposes. It is not authorised, nor intended, for product naming or consumer-facing labelling.
The regulator also took exception to the performance-boosting language used to market these products to consumers. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, food products are prohibited from carrying functional or therapeutic assertions unless they comply with specific statutory rules.
The specific claims flagged by the FSSAI across these brands include: “Stimulates mind energises body", "Enhancing focus", "Boosts energy levels", "Vitalizes body and mind" and "Aids in general weakness"
The FSSAI declared that marketing phrases promising to fight fatigue, restore alertness, or combat general weakness violate safety codes because they are not permissible for standard food products.
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