Bournvita maker acts after notice as FSSAI steps up crackdown on misleading claims
The Bournvita issue had drawn scrutiny in 2023 over its sugar content and nutritional claims, particularly its marketing to children
Mondelez India Foods, the manufacturer of Bournvita and Cadbury products, has withdrawn health and nutrient-comparison claims that were criticized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The company has also removed related advertisements from e-commerce platforms as part of the regulator's intensified crackdown on misleading food claims.
This move is part of a broader campaign where FSSAI has issued over 150 notices to food companies for various violations, including false claims and improper labeling. Other affected companies include Nestlé India, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola India, Abbott India, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India, Ferrero India, Kenvue, and Amway India.
The Bournvita case had previously raised concerns about its sugar content and marketing strategies directed at children. In response to the regulator's recent advisory from May 2025, several companies have made changes to their packaging and promotional materials. For instance, Amway India has removed "100%" from its labeling, and Juza Foods has altered the claims on its baby-food products.
FSSAI's action has expanded to cover e-commerce platforms and food-service establishments, issuing notices to over 12 e-commerce companies and more than 30 food-service businesses. The regulator's emphasis is on ensuring that food claims are accurate and not misleading, but the challenge lies in maintaining compliance among companies after they withdraw or modify their claims.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
