Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Thursday informed the Assembly that it had temporarily frozen the sale and distribution of Sting energy drink across the state following reports linking its consumption to the death of a 12-year-old student in West Garo Hills. The restriction was subsequently withdrawn after an inquiry found no causal relationship between the student’s death and consumption of the drink.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the Commissionerate of Food Safety, Meghalaya, issued an interim order on August 14, 2026, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, imposing a statewide freeze and prohibition on the sale and distribution of Sting.
An immediate inquiry was also ordered by the Food Safety Officer (FSO), West Garo Hills.
Responding to supplementary questions from TMC MLA Rupa Marak during the Autumn Session, Shylla said the student died from irreversible shock due to acute gastroenteritis (AGE), leading to acute kidney injury, according to the medical report from the Civil Hospital.
The minister said the child was 12 years old.
How the restriction was imposed and withdrawn
According to Shylla, a local newspaper reported on August 12 that a young boy had died allegedly after consuming Sting. The report subsequently went viral.
On August 13, a complaint regarding the incident was received, following which the Commissioner of Food Safety directed Assistant Commissioners and Designated Officers to take stock of the matter.
On August 14, the government imposed an interim distribution freeze and prohibition on Sting pending an inquiry. Food Safety Officers were directed to conduct an immediate investigation.
The inquiry report from the Food Safety Officer, West Garo Hills, was received at 11:45 pm on August 14.
On August 15, the inquiry concluded that no causal relationship had been established between the student’s death and consumption of Sting. In the absence of medical or legal grounds to attribute the death to the energy drink, the interim freeze and prohibition were withdrawn.
Shylla stressed that the withdrawal of the restriction was a factual outcome of the inquiry and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the product. He said routine food-safety surveillance and sampling would continue.
Concerns over warnings for children
Marak questioned whether Sting carried appropriate warnings, pointing out that energy drinks containing high levels of caffeine and sugar may be unsuitable for children and adolescents.
Shylla said products entering the market must comply with prescribed food-safety regulations and that their ingredients and additives must remain within permissible limits. He initially said he did not have information on whether the product carried a specific warning.
Marak subsequently told the House that he had checked information available online and found a warning stating that the product was not recommended for children.
He sought an assurance that retailers would be prohibited from selling the drink to children and lactating mothers.
Shylla responded that if the warning was present on the label, it constituted a restriction under the applicable requirements. He added that action against violations would be taken under the Food Safety Act.
He also told the House that the department’s inquiry involved more than simply examining the hospital report.
According to Shylla, the mother of the deceased child gave a written statement during the inquiry in which she said the child had never been fond of Sting. A doctor who recorded the child’s medical history also stated that the child had not consumed packaged food or packaged drinks before the incident.
Samples sent for laboratory testing
The minister said the Food Safety Department had stepped up sampling following the incident and had sent samples of Sting to NABL-accredited laboratories in different parts of the country.
He said the department had collected six regulatory samples and eight surveillance samples of Sting after the incident, with samples taken from several districts, including North Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills, West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills.
The government was awaiting the laboratory reports.
Shylla also said surveillance samples of the same drink had been collected before the incident, in April and May, and the laboratory reports available to the department had shown the samples to be compliant.
Opposition calls for stronger food-safety enforcement
Leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma urged the government to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of food-safety laws across Meghalaya.
He warned that the problem extended beyond energy drinks, pointing to the presence of expired packaged food products in markets and the need for greater awareness among retailers, shopkeepers and consumers.
Sangma said the government needed to review its food-safety enforcement strategy in view of the growing availability of processed and packaged foods, particularly given the exposure of children to such products.
He sought a categorical assurance that the government would immediately review enforcement and issue appropriate advisories to retailers, shopkeepers and consumers.
Government cites food-safety inspections
Responding to the concerns, Shylla said the Food Safety Department was already undertaking regular inspections and sampling as part of its statutory responsibilities.
He said food safety officers are required to inspect at least 10 food business operators every month, while collecting 10 regulatory samples and 15 surveillance samples.
Over the past three years, the department has conducted 3,726 inspections, tested 2,844 regulatory samples and examined 5,741 surveillance samples, according to the minister.
The sampling covers a wide range of products, including milk, fresh food, meat, food grains, confectionery, water and other food items.
Shylla said the department had also conducted surprise inspections and would continue its efforts to ensure food safety across the state.
“I assure the Hon’ble House that this point is well taken,” Shylla said, assuring members that the department would continue its efforts to ensure that food sold in Meghalaya remains safe for consumers.
The discussion placed renewed focus on the need for effective food-safety surveillance, particularly for products widely consumed by children, while the government maintained that the specific inquiry into the 12-year-old student’s death had found no evidence linking it to Sting.
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