New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- A dispute over two words - "energy drink" - has escalated into a legal battle between Austrian beverage maker Red Bull and India's food safety regulator, with the company arguing that the regulatory action could affect its existing and planned investments in the country.

Red Bull has sued the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) after the regulator prohibited the use of the "energy drink" descriptor on high-caffeine beverages. The company has challenged the move in the Delhi High Court, saying the prohibition was imposed without a warning notice. Reuters reported that Red Bull's legal challenge was filed on September 25.

In its court filing, Red Bull's India unit said the "abrupt prohibition" of th...