Mint explainer: Why is India’s food regulator cracking down on ‘herbal tea’?
Mint explains why the rule is being enforced now, who it affects, and what changes brands must make.The FSSAI has clarified that under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, “tea”—including variants such as Kangra tea, green tea and instant tea—must be obtained exclusively from the plant Camellia sinensis. Any infusion or blend made from other plants, flowers or herbs does not meet this legal standard and therefore cannot be named or marketed as “tea”.The decision flows from the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, which require every food package to clearly indicate the “true nature” of the product.
The regulator found that using the word “tea”, directly or indirectly, for non-Camellia sinensis products creates a false impression. Enforcing the rule is meant to curb misleading marketing and ensure ingredient transparency.Public health expert Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Cochin, said that “tea” refers to one specific plant—Camellia sinensis.“Putting any leaf or flower in hot water does not technically make it tea, unless it also contains actual tea leaves,” he said.
“The problem is that a customer reading such labels may wrongly assume the product contains real tea from Camellia sinensis, which has a safety record and popularity built over centuries of use. Food labels should be clear and should not mislead consumers.”The directive strikes at India’s fast-growing wellness beverage market.
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