New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sanctioned adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd. over allegedly misleading claims on its pomegranate juice label, including how the drink’s fruit composition and sugar declarations were presented.
The regulator said the product contains 4% pomegranate juice concentrate and 12% apple juice concentrate, but its name and imagery may mislead consumers about its composition. Its notice also said the label did not adequately identify the juice as reconstituted from concentrate, as required under applicable regulations.
Reconstitution and sugar claims questioned
FSSAI said the claim “Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)” did not comply with the applicable advisory. It also found the prominent “No Added Sugar” claim on the front of the pack misleading when paired with an inconspicuously placed “Contains Naturally Occurring Fruit Sugar” declaration on the back label.
The authority described the label declarations and claims as allegedly contravening applicable Food Safety and Standards regulations. It said the product had been inspected, sampled and subjected to label scrutiny, and the food business operator’s explanation was found unsatisfactory by the competent authority.
Adjudication proceedings sanctioned
The competent authority sanctioned adjudication proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The action announced is the sanction of proceedings; the notice does not announce a product ban or a final finding of guilt.
