FSSAI takes major action against energy drink companies; Notice to 14 companies, know how big is the business of India and the world

Taking major action against misleading claims in the food and beverage sector, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to 14 companies. Of these, 8 companies were selling products that allegedly made misleading claims in their names and promotions, while notices have been sent to 6 major energy drink brands regarding the claims made on their advertisements and products.

After this action of FSSAI, the discussion regarding the energy drink industry and its growing business has intensified in the country. The regulator has clarified that without scientific evidence, no food product can be allowed to make claims of providing extra energy, enhancing focus or providing health benefits.

The energy drink market in India has expanded rapidly over the last decade. Due to changing lifestyle, increasing youth population, fitness awareness and fast paced work culture, the demand for these products is continuously increasing. For this reason, domestic and multinational companies are rapidly investing in this sector.

According to market research reports, the current size of the global energy drink industry is approximately 85 to 92 billion US dollars (about Rs 8.1 to 8.8 lakh crore) is of. It is estimated that this market will grow by the year 2033. 158 billion dollars (about Rs 15.1 lakh crore) can be more than.

Whereas India’s energy drink market is currently around 0.75 to 1.5 billion dollars (about Rs 7,164 crore to Rs 14,328 crore) is considered to be. Experts predict that this market will expand at a faster pace in the coming years.

According to the market report, traditional energy drinks are expected to contribute the largest share in the market in 2025, while the demand for natural and organic energy drinks is also continuously increasing. In terms of packaging, PET bottles accounted for the largest share, while glass bottles were also registering a significant increase in demand. Offline and online retail channels still remain dominant in terms of sales.

FSSAI has clarified that Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 Under this, no company can claim its product as “instant energy giver”, “focus enhancer”, “mind sharpener” or “disease cure” without scientific evidence. All such claims require prior approval from the regulator.

Apart from this, the packaging, brand name and labeling of the product should also not be misleading to the consumers. If a company declares its product as “healthy”, “vegan” or having any particular health benefit, it will be mandatory to follow the prescribed standards and licensing process.

In the action taken by FSSAI in the last 20 days, notices have been issued to a total of 14 companies. The six energy drink companies involved have been asked to provide scientific evidence to support the health and performance claims made on their products. The regulator says that strict action will continue in future also against claims that mislead consumers.

This action of FSSAI is being considered an important step towards food safety, transparency and consumer interests in the country. This has given a clear message to companies to present their advertisements and product information more responsibly and as per the rules.