Delhi High Court seeks Centre’s stand on plea over “misbranding” of Patanjali product

Delhi High Court seeks response from Centre on petition against misbranding of Patanjali's 'Divya Manjan' as vegetarian.

The Delhi High Court on Friday (August 30, 2024) sought a response from the Centre on a petition seeking action against the alleged misbranding of Patanjali’s ‘Divya Manjan’ as a vegetarian product.

The plea claimed that though the dental care product was being sold with a “green dot”, symbolising that it was a vegetarian commodity, it contains fish extract, a non-vegetarian ingredient.

The court issued notice to the Centre, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as well as Patanjali, Divya Pharmacy (manufacturer), Yoga guru Ramdev and other related parties on the petition filed by Yatin Sharma, a practising advocate.

Mr. Sharma said he and his family, swayed by the promotion of vegetarian and plant-based Ayurvedic products by Patanjali Ayurveda, had been consistent users of ‘Divya Manjan’ for an extended period.

“However, a recent revelation came to light when the petitioner discovered that the product contains “Samudraphen (Sepia officinalis)” derived from fish extract (Cuttlefish bone),” Mr. Sharma said.

He said this discovery was “particularly distressing” for him and his family, who hail from a Brahmin family, where the consumption of non-vegetarian ingredients/products was strictly prohibited based on religious beliefs and sentiments.

“The realisation that they had unwittingly consumed a non-vegetarian ingredient/product for an extended period deeply hurt and shocked the petitioner and his family,” the plea said.