The FSSAI has finalised the Food Safety Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations 2016 relating to standards for caffeinated beverages and use of blue tint in plastic containers. Through a notification dated 4 November 2016, the FSSAI has made these standards operational with immediate effect. All FBOs will need to follow these standards which will be enforced on their final notification in the Official Gazette.
The amendments have been made in the Food Safety Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 in the regulation category BEVERAGES NON-ALCOHOLIC – CARBONATED related to Caffeinated beverages.
The new standards for caffeinated beverages are as follows
The water used in the preparation of caffeinated beverages should conform to the standards of packaged drinking water as prescribed in the same regulation.
The FSSAI has stated that the essential composition must not contain less than 145mg per litre and not more than 300mg per litre of total caffeine no matter what the source used in the formulation of the product.
Optional ingredients that the beverage may contain are given in column 1 below along with the maximum amount per day consumption in Column 2
Column (1) | Column (2) |
Substances | Maximum amount per day consumption |
Taurine | 2000mg |
D-Glucurono-Y-lactone | 1200mg |
Inositol | 100mg |
Pantothenic Acid | 10mg |
If any additional item or ingredients need to be added other than those mentioned in the table above the FBO will require approval from the FSSAI which is subject to the safety assessment and substantiation through scientific evidence.
It is mandatory to declare on the label “consume not more than 500 ml per day” as this is the per day quantity consumers must not exceed. Per day quantity is the maximum amount of the caffeinated beverage as package or serves that may be consumed in a day.
If the above named substances are consumed at the maximum level then that will be the maximum quantity per day and the declaration must mention the number of packs or serves that cumulatively delivers this amount when consumed in a day. For example if 1000mg taurine is used and 300mg of D-Glucurono-Y-lactone in a 250ml pack, the per day quantity will be reached on consuming 2x250ml packs. Similarly the per day quantity for the 125ml pack would be 4x125ml bottles for consumption in a day.
Vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitaminB6, vitamin B12 may be added at one Recommended Daily Allowance level (100% RDA)
Ingredients, flavours, sweeteners, food additives, contaminants and microbiological requirements of caffeinated beverages must conform to the standards for carbonated water.
Labelling Requirements
Labelling on caffeine beverages will need to comply with the provisions of general labelling requirements of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) regulations 2011 for pre-packaged foods. Additional provision for caffeine beverages will be as follows
- High Caffeine – X mg/serving size (X stands for amount of caffeine in milligrams per pack/serve
- Prominent caution display – Not recommended for children, pregnant of lactating women, persons sensitive to caffeine must be mentioned.
Standards for Blue Tint
Blue tint as provided in Indian standards IS: 9833 may be allowed in plastic containers of five litres and above that are made of poly carbonate and PET and used for packaging mineral water as well as packaged drinking water. Migration of pigment/colour must not exceed 60mg/litre as per IS: 9845.
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