Question : Energy Drinks

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note of a study published in Journal of American Medical Association indicating the harmful effect of energy drinks on health;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government proposes to limit the production and sale of energy drinks in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is a provision in the present regulation for printing health warning on energy drinks, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to create awareness about health risks by consuming energy drinks?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) & (b): As per report published on 17.11.2015 in the Journal of American Medical Association, a pilot study based on a Randomized Trial of Cardiovascular Responses to Energy Drink Consumption in Healthy Adults was conducted on 25 participants. It showed that consumption of commercially available energy drinks significantly increased the level of blood pressure and catecholamines in young healthy adults. The report recommends research in larger studies to assess whether the observed acute changes are likely to increase cardiovascular risk.

(c): No decision has been taken to limit the production and sale of energy drinks in the country.

(d): The labeling requirements for caffeinated drinks (energy drinks) have been specified in the draft regulations.

(e): The consumers are educated/made aware of the food safety through consumer awareness programmes launched jointly by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These include advertisements in different media, campaigns launched by the FSSAI on social media such as Face-book, documentary films on YouTube, educational booklets, information on FSSAI website, stalls at Fairs/Melas/Events and mass awareness campaigns.