New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that all Food Business Operators (FBOs) must immediately remove any claims of 100% fruit juice from the labels and advertisements of reconstituted fruit juices. FBOs are required to use up all existing pre-printed packaging materials by September 1.
FSSAI found that several FBOs were inaccurately marketing various reconstituted fruit juices as 100% fruit juices. After thorough review, FSSAI concluded that under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, there is no provision for such a claim. These claims are considered misleading, particularly when the main ingredient is water and the fruit juice content is minimal, or when the juice is reconstituted from water and fruit concentrates or pulp.
FBOs must adhere to the standards for fruit juices outlined in sub-regulation 2.3.6 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards & Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.
This regulation states that products covered by this standard must be labelled in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, the statement said.
The ingredient list must clearly state the word reconstituted next to the name of any juice reconstituted from concentrate. Additionally, if nutritive sweeteners exceed 15 gm/kg, the product must be labelled as Sweetened juice, the regulator said.
FSSAI remains committed to safeguarding and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety standards nationwide.
