Drinks with 320ppm caffeine to be labelled 'caffeinated drinks': FSSAI

Currently, the prescribed upper limit of caffeine in soft drinks and aerated sugar water is 145 ppm

Drinks that contain caffeine should be categorised as ‘caffeinated drinks’ and packs should clearly mention statutory safety warnings, said K. Chandramouli, chairperson, Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

“We are separating these drinks with other soft drink items, creating a new category called ‘caffeinated drinks’. Consumers should have such a drink after knowing what it contains,” Chandramouli said, on Friday. Labelling these as energy drinks is misleading for consumers, said the FSSAI chairman.

As per the FSSAI guidelines, which would be published soon, drinks that contain caffeine of more than 320 mg per litre or parts per million (ppm) would be labelled as caffeinated drink, said Chandramouli. Currently, the prescribed upper limit of caffeine in soft drinks and aerated sugar water is 145 ppm.

“Most of the energy drinks are likely to come under the caffeinated drinks category,” he added.

Packs should contain the statutory safety warnings, specifying “not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, persons sensitive to caffeine and sportspersons”, as per a FSSAI note.

"We already declare caffeine on Burn. It says it “contains caffeine”," said a Coca-Cola spokesperson. PepsiCo said that the company does not sell energy drinks in India, and Red Bull officials were not available for comments.

The government has, in July, given approval to Coca-Cola to produce energy drinks in India, as reported in Business Standard. The company, however, is yet to chalk out the detailed plan.

Coca-Cola sells its energy drink Burn in India. According to Coca-Cola website, Burn contains 0.03% of caffeine in a can of 300 ml.

The energy drink market in India is dominated by Red Bull, Cloud 9 and Power Horse that are marketed by two Australian companies. Indian energy drinks market is estimated at Rs 500 crore and is expected to grow at CAGR 25%, according to a study by Technopak Advisor. The carbonated drinks market is close to Rs 6,000 crore and is growing by 10-12% annually.

PepsiCo, in 2008, had launched SoBe in India. The company does not sell the product anymore, said a company spokesperson.

Coca-Cola launched its energy drink Burn in India in December 2009. Prior to this, Coca-Cola had launched another energy drink – Shock in 2001, which failed to penetrate Indian markets.

Energy drinks, mostly those with more caffeine, are favourite among young generations, and mostly consumed before gym activities and at pubs.

New food standards on cards: FSS To Harmonise Indian Food Standards With Global Standards

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning bring fresh standardisation norms for food items across categories, in order to harmonise Indian foods at per with international standards.

“Imported food items come with far better quality than Indian food items. We need to ensure that food exported and consumed here should maintain that standard,” said K. Chandramouli, chairperson, FSSAI.

The authority will seek inputs from experts to work on developing the strategy to frame the new standards next week, said FSSAI advisor S.

Dave. “We will notify the same on FSSAI website early next week.”

The whole process of framing the standards is likely to be completed in three to four phases, but implementation will be a continuous process, Dave said. “Details of the roadmap and strategy are yet to be finalised. We would be in a position to give more details after a few days,” he added.

The gap between Indian standards and the international standards is huge, baring a few items. “In just a few cases, we are slightly better. Our enforcement mechanism is very strong and is applicable for everybody. Once we get the standards defined, implementation would not be an

issue,” said Dave.

It would be implemented across all food categories, but a few areas will get priority, including milk and dairy, fat or oil-based products, fruit-based products, and vegetables, according to Chandramouli.

He serves as a one-man 'FOOD SAFETY DEPARTMENT'

The Uttarakhand Government does not look interested in tackling the menace of food adulteration. This is the inference that can be drawn from the State Government’s attitude toward the ‘food safety department.’ In fact, there is no proper “department” in the real sense of the word. There is only one Food Safety Officer (FSO) in the State Capital Dehradun who is single-handedly responsible for collection of samples and sending them to laboratories for testing and that’s all. What’s more, the officer has to pay for the samples from his own pocket and has to bear the other expenses, too, like transportation of samples etc. 
The Food Safety Act has been in effect since August 5, 2011 all over the country. The Central Government notified the State Government way back in 2009 to restructure its food safety department so that it can effectively work according to the new guidelines. But almost three years after that, all the department has is a single Food Safety Officer who has to double up as a porter to carry the samples collected by him apart from doing all the clerical work as well. This officer has no assistant, no vehicle, and no security. The officer has to pay for all the expenses from his own pocket, including the transportation of the samples to the labs and other places. The Government reimburses the money later, but like any other sarkari process, this one too is very slow.
For the uninitiated, the collection of sample is a tedious process. It requires filling up of a dozen and a half papers and sealing the samples on the spot. At least four samples have to be purchased by the officer and sealed on the spot in the presence of two independent witnesses. Many shopkeepers do not give the samples willingly and try to lure or threaten the FSO. After that begins the filling of form 5A (4 copies to be filled), form 6A (7 copies to be filled) and later panchnama — the complete details of the sample, shopkeeper, officer along with date, time and place. At present all this is done by a single person in Dehradun.
A few things are so expensive that they are beyond the purchasing power of an FSO in the stipulated quantity. For example silver foils (at least 8 gram required) and saffron (80 gram needed for 4 samples). Besides, an FSO is required to send at least 12 different samples to the laboratory in a month. In these circumstances, how effective the checking of food adulteration is can be easily gauged.

Inappropriate and Incomplete Implementation of Food Safety & Standards Act, DC N&M

Port Blair, Sept. 20: The Deputy Commissioner North & Middle Andaman has observed that, “The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules 2011 and Regulation 2011 are being inappropriately and incompletely implemented. There is a need for a Commissioner Food Safety and Designated Officer as per Law”. Reliable sources inform that the Deputy Commissioner North & Middle Andaman had called up a meeting of the Food Safety Officials of his district and took stock of the problems for smooth implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act. The DC has written a Note (UO 8-24/DC(N&MA) FSSS/12/2401 dated 4th September 2012) to Secretary (Health) stating that he has been designated as Adjudicating officer under the same law but cannot exercise his duties due to inappropriate and incomplete implementation of the Act, which is a grave situation. He writes “The Commissioner Food Safety (Director of Health Services), A&N Administration, Port Blair vide order No. 92 dated 06/06/2011 has appointed the Medical Officer I/C, N&M Andaman, Mayabunder as the Designated Officer (Licensing Officer) for N&M Andaman District for a period of 01 year or till a whole time Officer Designated officer is appointed, whichever is earlier”. It revealed that the power conferred on the Medical Officer I/c, N&M Andaman, Mayabunder as the Designated Officer has already lapsed on 04/08/2012. As per qualification Rule 2.1.2.1 (iii) (b) the additional charge cannot be held by him from 05/08/2012 and no whole time Designated Officer is appointed from that date. Thus the Food Licenses and Registration issued / made by the (earlier), after 05/08/2012 will be null & void. The need now is for a full time Designated Officer to be appointed immediately. Also the Commissioner of Food Safety (State Food Authority) should be of the rank of “Commissioner and Secretary” to State Government may be notified / appointed. But at present the Director of Health Services has been conferred the power of Commissioner Food Safety. And therefore the appointment of Commissioner of Food Safety and Designated Officer is to be appointed as per the provision of the Law. “I have been designated as Adjudicating officer under the same law but cannot exercise my duties due to inappropriate and incompletely implementation of the Act. Hence your personal attention is sought in the matter. Submitted please. Sd/- Deputy Commissioner North & Middle Andaman District.” It is surprising to learn that the Administration has been simply ignoring the Note of a District Magistrate. Inappropriately and incomplete implemented Food Safety and Standards Act has rendered the enforcement officials powerless that will help learned criminals to escape on technical ground. Huge amount of salaries paid out of government exchequer is being wasted. There are no regulations to help good business people to carryout food business as some who do malpractices, practice fearlessly. And in the absences of any properly implemented regulations the consumer interests also remains unprotected.