India Focus: Beyond Water's RTD iced teas, FSSAI's organic orders, Beyond Snacks' new banana chips and more feature in our round-up

India iced tea innovation: Shark Tank-backed Beyond Water launches first RTD products with strong health focus​

India’s Beyond Water has launched its first ready-to-drink (RTD) iced tea in India, tapping on high-quality tea sourcing and consumers demand for healthier beverages.

The functional beverage company launched RTD iced tea, available in peach and lemon flavours, last month across India.

Organic ownership: India food authority orders upgrades for all state labs to boost exports​

The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) is attempting to balance plans for boost organic food exports with ongoing food safety concerns by mandating all state-authorised laboratories to adopt organic testing capabilities.

FSSAI had initiated strategies to improve organic standards and governance in India in June this year, but reinforced this order in the third quarter amidst continuing public concern over adulterated organic products in the market.

This was also driven by increased government emphasis on growing organic exports earlier in September, which was announced by India’s Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.

Targeting TikTokers: India’s Beyond Snack builds on strong growth with ‘exotic flavours’ aimed at young consumers​

India-based Beyond Snack recently expanded its repertoire of banana chips in the hope of attracting Millennials and Gen Zs, whom the firm believes are particularly receptive to flavour innovations.

The latest addition to Beyond Snack’s line-up​ is a crinkle-cut version of its banana chips called Banana Waves, which come in two flavours — Cheesy Jalapeno and Sriracha Delight.

According to Manas Madhu, founder of Beyond Snack, the objective of creating these “exotic flavour combinations” is to appeal to a wider audience, especially the younger generation.

Postbiotic approval: Kirin subsidiary’s ingredient approved for use in foods, supplements in India​

Kyowa Hakko Bio, a subsidiary firm of Kirin, says its postbiotics is now approved for use in general foods and health supplements in India.

The company received approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in August that IMMUSE, its proprietary Lactococcus lactis ​strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) postbiotic, could be used in general foods and health supplements. 

The postbiotic was approved under Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017. 

Outside of India, the ingredient is already used in various functional food and beverages as well as supplement products. Examples include Kirin’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) series known as iMUSE launched in Japan. 

In the right spirit: India launches strict standards for high-value whiskey to cut labelling adulteration​

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formally launched a new set of strict standards to define high-value whiskey products, in a bid to further cut down alcohol adulteration in the country.

India’s alcohol industry is well-known for facing many challenges in terms of food safety and adulteration, even more so since the advent of COVID-19 which saw alcohol counterfeits topping the list​​ of overall counterfeit cases in India throughout 2020.