The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that all domestic food business operators (FBOs) must cease using the '100% fruit juices' claim on labels and advertisements for reconstituted fruit juices.  

This directive is effective immediately, with a compliance deadline set for 1 September 2024, by which all existing preprinted packaging materials must be exhausted. 

The FSSAI's commitment to ensuring public health is reinforced through the regulation and supervision of food safety standards. 

The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in a statement, said: “It has come to the attention of FSSAI that several FBOs have been inaccurately marketing various types of reconstituted fruit juices by claiming them to be 100% fruit juices.

"Upon thorough examination, FSSAI has concluded that, according to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, there is no provision for making a ‘100%’ claim.” 

According to the authority, such claims are misleading, especially when the primary ingredient is water, and the fruit content is present only in limited concentrations.  

The FSSAI's regulations require that the term 'reconstituted' be clearly stated on the label if the juice is made from water and fruit concentrates or pulp. 

Furthermore, the FSSAI has reminded FBOs that they must adhere to the standards for fruit juices as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards & Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.  

This includes labelling products in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. 

If a product contains added nutritive sweeteners exceeding 15g per kilogram, it must be labelled as 'sweetened juice'.