In the wake of FSSAI’s amendment to increase caffeine content beyond the stipulated limit in energy drinks such as Red Bull, the Mumbai High Court has put a stay; granting three-week time to the apex food regulatory body to submit the clarification. The court has taken this step after a no show by the FSSAI in two hearings of a
PIL to this effect.
The petition was filed by one Yajurvedi Rao seeking information about the increased caffeine content in Red Bull. As per his records, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra had seized samples of the energy drink in 2009 finding 200mg of caffeine in the drink, which was higher than the prescribed limit. In a judgement by the Alibaug judicial magistrate, it was ordered to destroy the samples.
Counsel to the petitioner, Anjali Purav stated that her client has filed PIL against the FSSAI pointing out the increased limit would have adverse effects on the health of the people. She added that the existing regulations stipulated the prescribed caffeine limit in energy drinks to be 145mg per litre, but the amended regulations stipulate that caffeine content should not be less than 145mg per litre and not more than 320mg per litre.
Under the amendment, the FSSAI has included caffeinated drinks into an additional category as provided in the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.The amendment also undertook the said exrcise to permit companies like Red Bull to sell beverages containing caffeine, she added further. The lawyer presented the information before the bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice G S Kulkarni and urged to restrain the FSSAI from doing so.
Seeing the adverse effect of caffeine on the human body, Purav warned that its consumption beyond the prescribed limit could be dangerous. She also urged the FSSAI to refrain from permitting companies manufacturing caffeinated beverages to increase it beyond the stipulated limit.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply