The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) tried to stop Austrian beverage firm Red Bull from using the label “energy drink” on its cans. However, on September 29, 2026, the Delhi High Court quashed the FSSAI’s order, saying the regulator acted without giving Red Bull a chance to be heard.

While Red Bull’s reprieve is purely procedural, it has implications for an entire industry pushing back against the FSSAI crackdown on this category of beverages. Red Bull is the only company to have taken formal legal action. The other companies, including Pepsi, Monster, and Reliance, had protested the move privately. The FSSAI order requires makers of high-caffeine beverages sold as “energy drinks” to stop using the description on their products. The regulator’s move is based on concerns that the term could be misleading to consumers.

The drinks contain significant amounts of sugar and caffeine. Health concerns around energy drinks include increased blood pressure and heart-related risks, particularly with high consumption.

The court’s decision therefore provides relief beyond Red Bull, in a market that Reuters says is expected to reach $1.6 billion in India by 2028.

Source: Reuters