Gum, energy drinks on FDA radar after ban on gutkha, paan

After banning gutkha and paan masala, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has trained its guns on nicotine-based chewing gums, and jelly tablets and energy drinks that contain caffeine overdose.

After banning gutkha and paan masala, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has trained its guns on nicotine-based chewing gums, and jelly tablets and energy drinks that contain caffeine overdose.

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FDA minister Manohar Naik told HT on Wednesday that after receiving complaints that some pharmaceutical companies were selling nicotine-based drugs under the pretext that they helped addicts kick the habit, he has asked all divisional commissioners to collect samples and get them tested for nicotine.

"Under the prevalent laws, nicotine cannot be mixed in any food item and sold over the counter," the minister said. It was on this ground that the state banned gutkha and paan masala a couple of months ago.

Naik said that such tablets and gums were manufactured under the drugs licence issued by his own department.

"We need to verify presence of nicotine in such packaged things."

FDA has also brought energy drinks under its scanner because they contain caffeine.