Delhi HC quashes order barring Red Bull from using ‘energy drink’ label

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday quashed an order by India’s food safety regulator barring Austrian beverage maker Red Bull from using the “energy drink” label on its cans, saying the company was not given an opportunity to present its views, Reuters reported.

Red Bull had challenged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s June order, which barred makers of high-caffeine beverages from using the “energy drink” description.

The beverage maker’s Indian subsidiary argued before the High Court that the “abrupt prohibition” was affecting its existing and planned investments in India. It also alleged that the regulator had not followed due process before reaching its decision.

The court agreed with Red Bull that the regulator had acted “without affording any opportunity” to the company to present its views and quashed the order.

Th food regulator’s order had come amid a crackdown by the food regulators on food adulteration and misleading advertisements of products in recent months.

Edited by Sneha and Tanya Shrivastava.

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