Bournvita Sugar Content Row: Child Rights Body Orders Makers To Remove Misleading Ads And Packaging Labels

Bournvita, manufactured by Mondelez International subsidiary Cadbury, recently hit the headlines after a social media influencer claimed it contains sugar, cocoa solids, and a cancer-causing colorant.

Following the viral video, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to Mondelez India International, the manufacturer of Bournvita, asking for clarification on the allegations of harmful substances in the chocolate-flavored powder.?

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The NCPCR has also requested a review and withdrawal of misleading ads and labels.?

Additionally, the NCPCR has written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Central Consumer Protection Authority to take action against companies not complying with food safety and advertising guidelines.?

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The NCPCR has urged all bodies to submit a report on the steps taken in this matter within a week.?

The NCPCR has also raised concerns about the lack of disclaimers in Hindi and other regional languages and the unclear nutritional information in additives marketed as "health drinks."

How did the sugar-content video spark a more extensive debate around 'health drinks'?

Revant Himatsingka, a social media influencer, recently claimed that the popular chocolate-flavored malted drink Bournvita, made by Cadbury, a division of Mondelez International, contains sugar, cocoa solids, and a cancer-causing colorant.?

Mondelez India served Himatsingka a legal notice, and he deleted the video, but not before it sparked concern among parents about the product's contents.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has since written to Mondelez India, demanding a response to allegations that Bournvita contains harmful substances, including a high percentage of sugar, and fails to display mandatory disclosures in line with the guidelines and regulations of the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Consumer Protection Act.?

Tarla Dalal

The NCPCR also called on Mondelez India to conduct a review and withdraw misleading advertisements and labels.

In response to the accusations, Mondelez India claimed that food scientists and nutritionists had carefully crafted Bournvita's formulation to provide the best possible taste and health.?

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The company emphasized that all claims are verified and transparent, all ingredients have regulatory approvals, and all necessary nutritional information is mentioned on the pack for consumers to make informed choices.?

The company also criticized the video for creating "panic, anxiety, and questions about the trust consumers have bestowed on brands like Bournvita" and stated that it took legal recourse to avoid misinformation and issued a statement to clarify and share the correct facts.

The company's website describes Bournvita as a malted drink that debuted in India in 1948.

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