I have written to the Hon’ble Union Minister Chirag Paswan highlighting the distress faced by mango farmers due to sharp reduction in pulp content in mango-based beverages — from 20% in 2022 to 11% in 2024.

This decline is driven by companies circumventing higher GST rates and misusing regulatory loopholes by rebranding products as “fruit drinks” instead of “fruit juice”, violating FSSAI norms.

I have urged the Ministry to take immediate corrective measures to restore 20% pulp usage and prevent the dilution of standards affecting farmer livelihoods.

Kanimozhi,Deputy General Secretary, DMK