Market Chatter: PepsiCo, Monster Beverage Sue India Food Regulator Over Energy Drink Tag Ban

03:42 AM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- PepsiCo (PEP) and Monster Beverage (MNST) filed lawsuits against India's food safety regulator over a directive banning the "energy drink" label, Reuters reported Thursday, citing court filings. The companies said in separate New Delhi court petitions that a June 30 restriction was enacted without giving them prior notice or an opportunity to present their positions, inflicting financial harm, according to the report. Pepsi India has 492 million bottles and 26 million cans bearing the label in circulation as of late July, which will have negative consequences for the company, and a judge is expected to hear the cases next week, the report said. PepsiCo, Monster Beverage, and India's Food Safety and Standards Authority did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)