HUL removes health label from Horlicks and Boost, renames as functional nutritional drinks
This comes after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry instructed e-commerce platforms to remove drinks and beverages from the healthy drinks category.
FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has removed the 'health' label from its health food drinks, the company announced on Wednesday, April 24. This comes after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry instructed e-commerce platforms to remove drinks and beverages from the 'healthy drinks' category.
HUL has now renamed its health drink brands Horlicks and Boost as 'functional nutritional drinks' (FND).
The changes were announced by Ritesh Tiwari, chief financial officer of Hindustan Unilever during the earnings press conference on April 24. Tiwari emphasised that the shift to the FND label provides a more accurate and transparent description of the category. He highlighted the under-penetration of the FND market, indicating significant growth opportunities.
In its investor presentation, the FMCG giant said that it is dialing up benefits and nutrition science on the pack to help consumers make informed choices about their food and beverage consumption.
On April 10, the government asked all the e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the health drinks category from their portals.
"National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no 'health drink' defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in an advisory to all e-commerce companies.
On April 2, food safety standards regulator FSSAI directed all e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) to ensure appropriate categorisation of food products being sold on their websites.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has noted that instances of food products licensed under 'Proprietary Food' with the nearest category Dairy-Based Beverage Mix or Cereal-Based Beverage Mix or Malt-Based Beverage being sold on e-commerce websites under the category Health Drink, Energy Drink, etc, it added.
With agency inputs
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