Delhi High Court: PepsiCo, Monster Can Sell Existing 'Energy Drink' Stocks, Not Manufactur

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that PepsiCo and Monster Beverages can sell their existing stocks of beverages labelled as “Energy Drink”, but cannot manufacture any more products bearing the descriptor.While PepsiCo manufactures Sting Energy and Adrenaline Rush, Monster sells its product under the name Monster Energy. They had approached the High Court against orders passed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directing them to drop the label "energy drink". The FSSAI had also directed the food safety officers across India to seize the products. Justice Amit Mahajan today said that he is staying the order to the extent that no coercive action will be taken against the companies. However, the Court added that it does not mean that the companies can continue manufacturing more products with the label.The order will stay in force till the next date of hearing on November 5. " Your existing stock will be sold," the Court added. Justice Amit MahajanThe High Court passed the order while dealing with the petitions filed by PepsiCo and Monster Beverages. Notably, earlier in the day, the Court also stayed the FSSAI order against Reliance Consumer Products Limited, which manufactures the drink Campa Energy Drink. Advocate Suransh Chaudhary appeared for FSSAI today and told the Court that after the authority passed the order directing the companies to drop the "energy drink" label, there was a meeting with the industry body in mid-July.Chaudhary added that