- Delhi HC quashes FSSAI order against Red Bull's 'energy drink' label.
- Court cited FSSAI's violation of natural justice, denying Red Bull response.
- FSSAI also proposes new front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods.
The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, quashed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) order directing Red Bull to stop using the term "energy drink" on its products. A bench chaired by Justice Amit Mahajan observed that the company was not given an opportunity to respond before FSSAI issued the direction.
The high court said that the order dated June 30, 2026, was passed without giving any opportunity to the petitioner to file any reply or make an explanation. With the above observation, the court allowed Red Bull's plea challenging the June 30 order on the limited ground of violation of natural justice.
The ruling comes after a major regulatory dispute over the labelling of high-caffeine beverages in India, a market projected to be worth 1.6 billion by 2028. In June, India directed manufacturers of high-caffeine beverages marketed as energy drinks to stop using the description, rejecting attempts to delay the move.
The decision sparked a row among major players, who believed that removing the category label could hurt brands built around claims of providing an instant energy boost, Reuters reported. Red Bull’s Indian unit had challenged the restriction, adding that the “abrupt prohibition" of the label, without any corresponding change to the underlying product standard, “introduces substantial regulatory uncertainty and adversely affects" its existing and planned commercial investments.
It is significant to note that out of the six major beverage companies targeted by the FSSAI over the "energy drink" labelling restrictions, PepsiCo, Reliance Consumer Products, Monster Energy, and Hell Energy did not approach the court.
The regulatory body’s stance on functional claims
The FSSAI emphasised that the Food Category System outlined in the FSS Regulations should not be used for naming or labelling products.
The regulator clarified, "Under the FSS Act 2006 and its associated rules, food products cannot make functional or therapeutic claims—such as 'vitalises body and mind', 'improves focus', 'increases energy', 'relieves general weakness', or any similar assertions."
FSSAI’s proposed front-of-pack warning rules
A month ago, FSSAI proposed front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food and drinks, reversing its position following growing public anger about a lack of strict labels that highlighted high sugar, fat or salt in items.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has proposed a red-coloured hexagonal shape for food products which are high in any two or more nutrients - fat, sugar or salt - it said in a Supreme Court filing, Reuters reported. The warning label shall indicate the applicable declaration, such as 'HIGH FAT', 'HIGH SUGAR', 'HIGH SALT' and/or 'HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE', to enable consumers to readily identify products high in the specified nutrients," FSSAI said. The mechanism will “facilitate informed food choices, particularly in relation to children and other vulnerable groups of the population,” it added.
The Supreme Court is reviewing the proposal and pressing the regulator to expedite the process. The court's upcoming decision will be legally binding on the food regulator.