FSSAI Prohibits '100% Fruit Juice' Claims In Ads & Labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food business operators (FBOs) to immediately stop claiming 100% fruit juice in their advertisements and on packaging labels.

FBOs have been given until 1 September, 2024, to use up their existing packaging materials.  The statement mentioned, "It has come to the attention of FSSAI that several FBOs have been inaccurately marketing various types of reconstituted fruit juices by claiming them to be 100 per cent fruit juices."

After a thorough review, FSSAI has determined that the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, do not permit such claims.

"Such claims are misleading, particularly under conditions where the major ingredient of the fruit juice is water and the primary ingredient, for which the claim is made, is present only in limited concentrations, or when the fruit juice is reconstituted using water and fruit concentrates or pulp," FSSAI pointed out.

Food businesses must adhere to the fruit juice standards outlined in section 2.3.6 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.

The statement said, "This regulation states that products covered by this standard must be labelled in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020."

In the ingredient list, any juice made from concentrate must have the word "reconstituted" placed next to its name.

The regulator brought out,"Additionally, if added nutritive sweeteners exceed 15 gm/kg, the product must be labelled as 'Sweetened juice'."