Britannia launches Masala Chaas containing jeera, curry leaves, ginger

Saturday, December 22, 2012 08:00 IST 
Our Bureau, Mumbai

Britannia Industries Ltd., one of India’s most trusted food brands with a diverse portfolio of products in biscuits, bakery and dairy categories, has launched Masala Chaas – a milk-based beverage spiced with jeera, curry leaves and ginger. It will initially be available at all leading modern trade outlets across major Indian cities.

Packed in a 150ml bottle priced at Rs 15, it will have a shelf life of four months before opening and can be stored in an ambient environment. The launch marks Britannia's foray into F&B outlets, which account for a significant part of Indians' out of home consumption. 

Speaking at the launch, Ashok Namboodiri, head, dairy business, Britannia Industries Ltd, said, 
“Chaas has been an integral part of India’s cuisine, no meal is complete without a glass of buttermilk. Packaged chaas has emerged as a fast-growing category driven by convenience, consistent taste and new age lifestyle.” 

“There is a strong preference and shift seen towards usage of convenient, ready to use, foods as people do not want to invest time in preparing them. Britannia Masala Chaas offers the same experience without the hassle of preparing it. Secondly, there is also a trend emerging of substituting carbonated high calorie drinks with low calorie healthy drinks and Dairy Drinks, which Britannia is targeting,” he said. 

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Diet Pepsi switches to 2 sweeteners, schedules rebranding for next month

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 08:00 IST

Diet Pepsi is changing its sweetener as it embarks on a major rebranding scheduled for January.

According to AP, the change seems to be coming in as PepsiCo Inc. has been continuously losing market share to rival companies over the last few years.

As a result of the change, cans of Diet Pepsi in the US now list a mix of two artificial sweeteners, instead of just aspartame, which is sensitive to heat and breaks down easily.

Now, in addition to aspartame, cans of Diet Pepsi list acesulfame potassium as an ingredient. The ingredient is often used in combination with other artificial sweeteners and can be found in a wide range of foods including baked goods, chewing gum and gelatin desserts

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FSSAI files cases against 15 F&B companies for misleading advertisement

Tuesday, December 04, 2012 08:00 IST 
Our Bureau, Mumbai

In a bid to crack down on tall claims in the print and electronic media, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has filed cases against 15 food and beverage companies, which have been found violating Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 – which pertains to misleading advertisements – and the Food Safety and Standards (Packing and Labelling) Regulations (FSSR), 2011

Nineteen top nutritional products marketed by 15 companies were found to have violated  the rules and regulations, with claims that they make school children stronger and boost the stamina of sportspersons. The country's apex food regulator has scrutinised the products and posted the names of the companies and products, along with the descriptions of their violations, on their website. 

The errant companies are Heinz India Pvt. Ltd (Mumbai); Glaxo SmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd (Haryana); Emami Biotech Ltd (Kolkata); Marico Ltd (Mumbai); Hari Vegetable Products Ltd (Rajasthan); Trophic Wellness Pvt. Ltd (Mumbai); Kellogg's India (Mumbai); Britannia Industries Ltd (Kolkata); Cadbury India Ltd (Mumbai); Today Tea Limited (Delhi); Abbott India Ltd (Mumbai); Dabur India Ltd (Delhi); Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd (Noida); Hindustan Unilever Limited (Mumbai); and Rajdhani Flour Mills Ltd (Delhi).

An advertisement for Complan, a milk supplement marketed by Heinz India, states that one can grow twice as tall as a non-Complan drinker after consuming it. The ad for Complan Memory says it contains memory chargers and brain chargers which help improve memory. The picture on the product's label depicts students with books. It misleads children into believing that if they consume this health drink they would become good in studies. 

A source from Heinz India Pvt. Ltd, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are neither aware about the case filed against us by the food regulatory authority nor have we received any notice from FSSAI.”

Glaxo SmithKline – which markets Boost – claims that it provides, thrice as much stamina as other chocolate-flavoured milk supplements. The company has not submitted any specific study on this product to substantiate its claims. Neither has Horlicks, which claims that children become stronger, taller and sharper after drinking it. This is misleading and deceptive in nature.

Complaints have been filed against all the producers before the adjudicating officers for the violation of the FSS Act. All 15 companies have been issued notices by the food regulatory authority FSSAI to remove the misleading advertisements.

S N Mohanty, chief executive officer, FSSAI told FnB News, “After scrutinising all the 19 products of the 15 companies, we found that the advertisements placed by them in the newspaper, television and other media are misleading and deceptive in nature. The claims made by them are not proved by the signs on the products. We have filed cases against all the 19 products before the adjudicating officers of the areas where the companies are located. The maximum fine for the violation of these norms is Rs 10 lakh.”

Meanwhile, Today Tea claimed that its product, Today Premium Tea was 100 per cent natural and rich in antioxidants. The authority has filed a case against the company in Delhi. Sanjay Jain, vice-president, Today Tea Limited, said, “I am not aware about the notice of FSSAI. It is true that we have placed an advertisement in the local newspaper about the benefits of our product Today Premium Tea. I will go through the website of FSSAI and will find out about the violation.” 

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Bharti Wal-Mart suspends CFO, employees amid bribery probe

 Michelle Russell | 23 November 2012

Bharti Wal-Mart has suspended a number of its employees, one of which is understood to be its CFO, while it investigates alleged violations of US anti-bribery laws.

A spokesperson for Bharti Wal-Mart confirmed the move today (23 November) and said the company is "committed to conducting a complete and thorough investigation".

"Wal-Mart and Bharti have suspended a few associates pending the outcome of the investigation," the spokesperson said. "It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until we have finished the investigation."

It is understood the the Indian joint venture of Wal-Mart Stores has suspended five employees in total, including CFO Pankaj Madan, as part of an ongoing global investigation by the US retail giant against alleged corrupt practices, Reuters reported. Four of the employees are understood to be from Bharti's legal team.

According to the publication, Wal-Mart last week opened internal inquiries or investigations into bribery allegations in Brazil, China and India, following an earlier probe in Mexico. Indian authorities are also investigating claims the retailer violated foreign exchange rules when it invested $100m in a domestic unit owned by its wholesale joint-venture partner.

India's government finally allowed foreign direct investment in the country's retail sector in September after a number of delays. Indian opposition parties and the Congress party-led coalition government had opposed the move that would allow retail giants like Wal-Mart into the sector. Opponents believe greater foreign investment will hit domestic operators, particularly smaller, traditional outlets.

Opposition politicians demanded a debate and vote on the policy decision when the Indian parliament opened for its winter session yesterday, Reuters noted, threatening to halt parliamentary proceedings.

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SUMMARY OF CASES OF VIOLATION OF SECTION 24 OF FSS ACT, 2006 & FSS (PACKAGING AND LABELLING) REGULATION, 2011:

SUMMARY OF CASES OF VIOLATION OF SECTION 24 OF FSS ACT, 2006 & FSS (PACKAGING AND LABELLING) REGULATION, 2011:

Click here to download the summary of cases.

INDIA: Mondelez "co-operating" with authorities over Cadbury tax probe

By Michelle Russell | 22 November 2012

Mondelez International has said it is co-operating with authorities in India over alleged tax evasion in the country.

The snacks group's Cadbury India unit is being investigated over claims the company may have evaded as much as INR2bn (US$36.3m) in taxes.

According to Reuters, finance minister SS Palanimanickam told India's Parliament this week: "Two cases of tax evasion by Cadbury India Limited has been detected by the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence during the years 2009-10 to 2012-13, up to 31st October, 2012."

A spokesperson for Cadbury said in a statement: "A compliant and ethical corporate culture, which includes adhering to laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate, is integral to our success. To that end, we are fully co-operating with the authorities on this enquiry. Since the investigation currently is under way, it will be inappropriate on our part to discuss the details at this time."

This is the latest of two cases against Cadbury's Indian unit. In January last year, an investigation was launched to investigate whether Kraft Foods needed to pay taxes arising from it takeover of Cadbury.

Kraft rejected the criticism levelled at the company. However, the probe is understood to be ongoing.

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FSSAI asked to make new guidelines for junk food in schools

Posted on 21 November 2012 by Arshiya

The Delhi High Court has given the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) a six month period to come out with guidelines on implementing rules to ban junk food in and around schools. 

The two  judge bench gave the order on January 11. The next hearing is scheduled for July 25.

The court passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Uday Foundation, a non-profit in Delhi, which alleges that junk food causes damage to health and mental growth of children. The PIL was filed in 2010. The foundation works on children's health, and has sought a ban on sale of junk food in schools and within 500 metre radius of educational institutions.

Initially the respondents to the PIL were Delhi state and the FSSAI, but there have been attempts by others with vested business interests to join the respondents- this include the All India Food Processor's Association of India, All India Restaurant Association of India, Association of street vendors and the Halwai Association. The last three were the latest additions for the January 11 hearing. The bench  reprimanded the new parties and said that since they were joining for self interest and not public interest they wouldn't be allowed. 

The All India Food Processor's Association (AIFPA), however was allowed to become a part on November 2 last year. This nodal agency of the food processing industry in India, represented by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, wanted its point of view to be considered by the court since it did not want to be inadvertently dragged into the ban. This is because the petitioners in the case have failed to specify what kind of food items should be included in junk food or fast food. The association represents those involved in the processing of fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, milk and milk products and makers of biscuits and confectionary products.

However, the centre was supposed to file an action taken report by December, which they didn't on account of lack of time. They filed their report on January 10. The affidavit states that though taking a decision on banning junk food in schools is an administrative decision of those who run it, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have taken some actions.

For instance the ministry of health and family welfare has already requested the chief ministers and the health ministers of the states and the ministry of human resources development (HRD) for taking steps to ban, restrict availability or withdraw such food items from canteens of schools and educational institutions.

The affidavit also pointed out that a circular has been issued to hostel mess in navodaya vidyalaya by the navodaya vidalaya committee suggesting daily menu for hostel menu and had very clearly stated that no junk food was to be served in the hostel. The committee is an autonomous body under HRD ministry. This circular was issue on July 13, 2011. 

The affidavit added that the Kendryia Vidyalaya's also have been concerned about the problems of junk food and have been issuing circulars from time to time highlighting the problems of junk food and promoting good food eating habits. The FSSAI stated that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have also written to all the school affiliated to the board highlighting the concern over junk food and adulteration.

The FSSAI elaborated on their part, in the affidavit, that they were playing. They submitted that the statutory body was undertaking
a project for development of guidelines for making available quality and safe foods in school and has invited proposal from experienced agencies, organizations, institutions for development of guidelines for making available quality and safe food in school.

After completion of this process the FSSAI will be in a position to frame guidelines for making available healthy food in school canteens. At the moment the Food Safety and Standards Act does not define any food as junk food or fast food. All food that has been categorized as junk food falls under the category of proprietary food.

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