States » NorthPosted at: Oct 8 2026 12:52PM


Haryana FDA cracks down on protein powders, energy drinks; 73 samples under scanner

Panchkula, Oct 8 (UNI) Haryana's Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has launched legal proceedings against a Rohtak-based nutrition products dealer after inspectors uncovered serious labelling violations involving a protein powder marketed as "100% Natural", as a statewide crackdown brought 61 establishments and 73 samples of dietary supplements, protein powders and high-caffeine energy drinks under regulatory scrutiny.
The one-day enforcement operation, conducted simultaneously across all districts on October 5, comes amid mounting public health concerns about the safety, quality, and marketing of nutritional supplements, particularly products promoted for fitness, muscle development, and enhanced physical performance.
According to an official statement issued by the FDA, inspection teams targeted manufacturers, distributors, retailers and chemist outlets, collecting 73 samples for priority laboratory examination.
The samples have been dispatched to state food laboratories in Chandigarh and Karnal, as well as to facilities accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), to determine whether they comply with prescribed food safety and quality standards.
The most significant violation reported during the drive was found at M/S The Variety Nutrition in Rohtak, where inspectors found a product labelled "Natural Protein Powder" (Code: RTK/DO/2025) bearing an unsubstantiated "100% Natural" claim.
More alarmingly, the product allegedly lacked three essential mandatory labelling particulars — its expiry date, the manufacturer's address and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence number.
The omissions raise serious questions about consumer transparency, product traceability and regulatory compliance. Without an expiry date, consumers cannot determine whether a product remains within its declared shelf life, while the absence of manufacturer details and regulatory identification complicates efforts to establish accountability.
The FDA said immediate legal proceedings had been initiated against the Rohtak establishment under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The department has, however, not declared the product unsafe, and the laboratory findings on the collected samples are still awaited.
Issuing a stern warning to manufacturers and traders, the FDA said it would adopt a "zero-tolerance policy" towards establishments violating food safety regulations.
The department made it clear that manufacturers and vendors found dealing in unsafe, substandard, misbranded or otherwise non-compliant products would face stringent prosecution and punitive action under the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The enforcement drive has also brought the sale of nutritional supplements and energy drinks to vulnerable consumers into sharper focus.
"Strict action will be initiated against anyone selling such products to minors, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups without the advice of a doctor or dietitian," the FDA warned.
The warning is particularly significant in the context of high-caffeine energy drinks and dietary supplements, whose ingredients, consumption levels and suitability can vary considerably across different age groups and health conditions.
The crackdown also highlights the regulatory importance of distinguishing scientifically supported nutritional claims from promotional assertions that may mislead consumers.
Under India's food safety framework, health supplements and nutraceuticals are subject to specific requirements governing ingredients, labelling, warnings and claims. Manufacturers and sellers are required to comply with applicable FSSAI standards rather than rely solely on promotional descriptions such as "natural" or claims of health benefits.
Despite the scale of the statewide operation, the FDA has so far publicly identified only one establishment for specific violations. The department has not disclosed the names of the remaining businesses inspected, the brands whose samples were collected or the number of additional suspected violations, if any.
No laboratory results have been released yet, and the department has not announced any product recall or statewide ban resulting from the inspection drive.
The pending test reports will now be crucial in determining whether the enforcement operation uncovers broader violations involving product quality, safety or misleading labelling.
The FDA said further legal action would follow wherever laboratory findings established violations, putting manufacturers, distributors and retailers on notice that non-compliance could invite prosecution.
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