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GUWAHATI: India’s food safety watchdog has ordered companies to stop calling herbal infusions – from rooibos to flowers – “tea” unless the drink comes solely from the Camellia sinensis tree.FSSAI has directed all businesses to stop branding herbal and plant-based infusions “tea”, warning that such labels mislead consumers and amount to misbranding under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “It has come to the notice of FSSAI that some food business operators are marketing products that are not obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis under the name ‘Tea,’ such as ‘Rooibos Tea,’ ‘Herbal Tea,’ ‘Flower Tea,’ etc,” the regulator said. Under Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, tea refers exclusively to products made from Camellia sinensis, source of black, green, Kangra and instant teas in solid form.
Plant-based or herbal infusions or blends do not qualify to be named tea, either directly or indirectly, the regulator said. Brands selling calming, detoxifying or botanical blends will now have to rebrand. Online platforms face large-scale relisting. “We are very happy with this much-needed clarification from FSSAI,” said Bidyananda Barkakoty, adviser to North Eastern Tea Association. “This definition of tea will remove a lot of ambiguity from consumer’s mind, and will also help remove clutter and confusion,” he said.Barkakoty said even US Food and Drug Administration recognised only tea derived from Camellia sinensis as a “healthy” beverage, not herbal infusions.
