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FSSAI Bans ‘Tea’ Label on Herbal Infusions as Misbranding

27 December 20251 min read
NATIONAL AFFAIRSFSSAI Bans ‘Tea’Label on HerbalInfusions asMisbranding27 December 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India sent a strong caution to food businesses that call herbal infusions or plant blends ‘tea’. It considers this misleading and a case of misbranding.

Key facts

  • Law cited: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  • Regulator: FSSAI; addressed to food business operators (FBOs).
  • Permitted use of the word ‘tea’: only for beverages from Camellia sinensis.
Allowed to be called teaFound marketed as tea but not allowed
Green teaHerbal tea
Instant teaRooibos tea
Regional varieties such as Kangra teaFlower tea

What prompted the warning

FSSAI noticed several products on sale under the names herbal tea, rooibos tea and flower tea, even though they are not made from Camellia sinensis.

Exam angle

  • Regulator: FSSAI, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  • Plant source for true tea: Camellia sinensis.
  • Issue: misbranding by FBOs.

Test yourself

1. FSSAI says the term 'tea' can be used only for beverages derived from which plant?

Only drinks from Camellia sinensis may be labelled 'tea' under FSSAI rules.

2. FSSAI's warning on labelling herbal infusions as 'tea' relies on which law?

Such labelling is called misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

3. Which of these can legitimately be called tea under FSSAI rules?

Kangra tea is a regional variety from Camellia sinensis; the other three are infusions.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 25 & 26 December 2025 (18 topics).

All topics of the dayDay quizDecember 2025

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