Bournvita a health drink no more: Govt’s order to e-commerce firms

New Delhi: Bournvita to be removed from the category of ‘health drinks’, says the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The department has issued an advisory to e-commerce companies directing them to remove all drinks and beverages including Bournvita from the category of health drinks, on their portal and platforms.

According to news reports, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under Section (3) of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no ‘health drink’ defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.

According to NCPCR, it is found that Bournvita contains sugar levels, much above the acceptable limits.

Earlier, the NCPCR had called upon the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to initiate action against the companies that failed to meet safety standards and guidelines and were projecting power supplements as ‘health drinks’.

Controversies around contents of Bournvita

In 2023, a controversy erupted after social media influencer Revant Himatsingka made a video detailing the high sugar content in Bournvita.

Himatsingka, who runs a page called Food Pharmer, was then asked to delete the video from all platforms after being served a legal notice by Mondelez India, the makers of Bournvita.

Later, Bournvita changed its tagline - Tann ki Shakti Mann ki Shakti - to Tayyari Jeet ki.

Bournvita asked to withdraw misleading advertisements

In 2023, the NCPCR asked Mondelez International India, which manufactures Bournvita, to review and withdraw all ‘misleading’ advertisements, packaging and labels on its product.

In a letter to the president of Mondelez International India, the NCPCR said it has received a complaint wherein it was informed that Bournvita, which promotes itself as a health powder or health drink, contains a high percentage of sugar and contents or substances which may hurt the health of children.

“The commission in this regard observes that the product manufactured by your company is misleading the customers through its product packaging and advertisements. Further, your product’s labelling and packaging also fails to acknowledge the correct information regarding the contents used in the product — Bournvita,” the letter dated April 21 said.