No Standard Defined: FSSAI Targets Multiple Brands for Unauthorized Energy Drink Terminology

In a decisive move on July 2, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sent formal notices to several beverage manufacturers, including Red Bull, PepsiCo India, and Campa, for using the label “energy drink” without an established standard.

The authority clarified that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, together with the 2011 regulations, does not provide a legally recognised definition for energy drinks. Therefore, portraying a product as an “energy drink” or claiming benefits such as heightened stamina, improved focus, or brain stimulation is not permissible.

Brands named in the notice—Red Bull Energy Drink, Hell Energy, Campa Energy Drink, Monster Energy, and PepsiCo India’s Adrenaline Rush and Sting—are alleged to have breached the food labeling provisions by employing misleading terminology. The regulator emphasised that the food category system must not be used for product naming unless a specific standard exists.

FSSAI’s enforcement follows a series of notices issued in June to food business operators for similar violations concerning false claims, branding, and consumer complaints. The agency is committed to ensuring that all food and drink labels adhere strictly to the legal framework, thereby safeguarding public health.