Horlicks no longer a 'Health Drink'

• Hindustan Unilever rebrands its 'health drinks' category as 'functional nutritional drinks' (FND)
• FND defines to any non-alcoholic beverage that provides additional health benefits
• The move complies with regulatory directives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Hindustan Unilever, the conglomerate behind renowned brands like Horlicks and Boost, has implemented a significant rebranding strategy, shedding the 'health' label from its products. The company has revamped its 'health drinks' category, now referred to as 'functional nutritional drinks' (FND), following directives from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

This strategic move aims to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and eliminate potential confusion among consumers on e-commerce platforms. Ritesh Tiwari, the chief financial officer of Hindustan Unilever sated, "We have changed the labels of the category to FND, which is a much better way to call it."

This development comes after the Minister of Commerce and Industry directed e-commerce platforms to remove drinks and beverages from the 'healthy drinks' category.

Speaking on the newly introduced category HUL stated, the 'functional nutritional drinks' category serves the community's protein and micronutrient deficiency needs. FND could be defined as any non-alcoholic beverage that provides additional health benefits.