The centre recently advised all e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the health drinks category.
Global food and beverage company Nestle, which is major player in baby products, sells higher sugar content in poorer south Asian (including India), African and Latin American countries but sells sugar-free versions in countries like Europe, claims a report by a Swiss NGO, Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). As per the report, the baby product in India contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving, and it was the highest in the product in Thailand, which was 6 grams.
Amid the Nestle fiasco, the ministry of commerce and industry recently banned all e-commerce websites to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita from the “healthy drinks” category on their platforms. “NCPCR, a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CPCR Act, 2005, concluded that there is no "Health Drink defined under FSS Act 2006, Rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd," a notification by the ministry said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), earlier this month, had also asked all e-commerce websites not to put dairy, cereal, or malt-based beverages under the ‘health drink’ or ‘energy drink’ category. It is so because the 'health drink' is not defined in Indian food laws of India, while 'energy drinks' are just flavored water-based drinks under the laws. Hence, it can mislead the consumer.
For the unversed, Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. is the company behind an umbrella of brands such as Cadbury, which makes Bournvita.
Well, added sugars are sweetening agents that are added in processed foods and beverages. It is much more harmful than the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and milk.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the introduction of added sugars before the age of two years, can lead to the development of addictive eating habits at an early age. “This exposure to excessive amounts of sugar can lead to weight gain, obesity and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer later in life. Additionally, high sugar consumption in infancy has been associated with an increased risk of dental caries (tooth decay) and poor nutrient intake, as sugary foods often displace more nutritious options in a child’s diet,” Dr Richa Chaturvedi, Senior Consultant , Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, told Indian Express.
The WHO had also said in 2015 that it called on countries to reduce free sugar intake in children and adults to 10 percent, and advised cutting down to five per cent or 25 grams a day.
