Pepsi, Red Bull Scramble As India Orders Removal Of  ‘Energy Drink’ Label

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI -The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed beverage companies to remove the term “energy drink” and similar descriptions from product labels, citing the absence of defined standards and concerns over misleading claims.

The order covers companies including PepsiCo, Red Bull, Monster Beverage, Reliance Industries and Hell Energy.

Companies have been given 90 days to comply. Requests for an extension have been declined, Reuters noted.

The directive has affected production and distribution. Companies have paused manufacturing of new stock while trying to clear existing inventory, NDTV said. Smaller distributors continue limited purchases for roadside outlets, while larger retailers and supermarket chains are avoiding fresh stocking due to expected label changes.

FSSAI said there are no prescribed Indian standards for products sold as “energy drinks.” It also flagged claims such as “vitalizes body and mind” and “helps in general weakness” as potentially misleading.

The move has forced companies to review packaging and marketing in a segment expected to reach $1.6 billion in India by 2028.

In some states, authorities have seized stocks of products including Sting, Campa Energy and Red Bull.