The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has reportedly asked e-comm companies to delist all drinks and beverages like Cadbury Bournvita as "health drinks" from their respective platforms.

The ministry said in a notification dated April 10: "National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under Section (3) of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no 'health drink' defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd."

The advisory has come in light of the investigation by the NCPCR that found that Bournvita contains sugar levels much above the permissible limits.

The statutory body had earlier urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to initiate action against companies that do not meet safety standards and guidelines, and market their products as "health drinks."

This development comes a year after Nutritionist Revant Himatsingka locked horns with Cadbury Bournvita over the company's claims of being a health drink for children. In his video on Instagram, Himatsingka criticised the brand for its excessive sugar content and colourants, which led to a short-lived legal tussle. Eventually, Bournvita reduced its sugar content by 15% after the de-influencer's video went viral, causing significant bad publicity for the brand.