Big Beverage Companies Defend Varying Product Formulations in India

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé are facing scrutiny over their product formulations and labelling standards in India. The companies sell different versions of their products across markets, with varying levels of sugar and artificial ingredients.

A can of Fanta on a London shelf contains 63 calories, but the same brand in India holds nearly three times the sugar and an artificial dye that demands a prominent health warning in Europe. In India, this ingredient is listed in small print on the back of the can.

The companies responded to Times Now Digital's questions about their formulations and labelling standards. Nestlé India stated that product formulations may vary across countries due to differences in local regulations, consumer preferences, nutritional requirements, and ingredient availability.

Coca-Cola India claimed to support science-based interpretative front-of-package nutrition labelling, but its executive reportedly argued against such labels in a meeting with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), citing that consumers who don't already read ingredient lists would not be affected by warning symbols.

The FSSAI dropped plans to mandate colour-coded interpretive warning labels on the front of packaged foods, opting for a table of sugar, salt, and fat content instead. The decision is now before the Supreme Court.