The Delhi High Court has quashed the FSSAI directive instructing the company to stop using “energy drink” on its product. As a result, Red Bull may keep using the term “energy drink” on its labels. The court noted that Red Bull was denied a hearing prior to the issuance of the June 30, 2026 order.
Justice Amit Mahajan accepted RedBull’s petition, noting that the sole reason was that the principles of natural justice were violated. However, the Court did not close the matter entirely; the FSSAI may reconsider its decision after issuing a ‘show-cause notice’ and providing Red Bull an opportunity to present its case.
Red Bull challenged the FSSAI order in the Delhi High Court
The dispute arose when the FSSAI directed RedBull to stop using the term “Energy Drink” for its products. Red Bull challenged the FSSAI order in the Delhi High Court, arguing that the directive was issued without giving the company a chance to present its side. The court held that it was a procedural issue.
The Court observed, “It is an undisputed fact that the order of June 30, 2026, which instructed the petitioner against using the phrase ‘energy drink’ on their product, was issued without giving the petitioner any chance to submit a response or clarification.”
Red Bull can Currently Continue Using the Term ‘Energy Drink’
The Delhi High Court accepted Red Bull’s petition and set aside the FSSAI order of June 30. Crucially, the court’s decision was based on the lack of an opportunity for a hearing. The court did not make a final ruling on whether the term “energy drink” is permissible under FSSAI’s food labelling regulations. This implies that the food regulator (FSSAI) may reconsider the matter.
FSSAI May Take a Fresh Decision
The Delhi High Court made it clear that FSSAI has the liberty to make a new decision after adhering to the proper procedure. This would entail issuing a ‘show-cause notice’ to Red Bull and providing the company with an opportunity to respond and present its case before any new order is issued. For now, the court’s ruling grants Red Bull relief from the directive dated June 30, while the broader dispute regarding labelling remains unresolved.
