US: Monster pulls cans from India

MONSTER Beverage is revamping recipes and heading to court to try to keep its energy drinks on shelves in India after regulators declared its ginseng-laced beverages unsafe. Indian health officials banned the drinks last month, forcing Monster to pull cans already on the market. The government ruled that combining caffeine and ginseng was “irrational” and has an “opposing” effect on the body. “Caffeinated beverages containing the ingredient ginseng can no longer be sold in India,” the company said. “Unfortunately, even though Monster Energy drinks contain low levels of ginseng, we had no alternative but to stop selling Monster Energy products in India, and we have directed our distributors to stop selling them there as well.” The order is a setback for Monster as it prepares for a harder push into international markets with help from its new minority owner, Coca-Cola. Monster sold the soda maker a 17 percent stake this month. – Bloomberg