FSSAI Bans Sale of Select Old Monk, McDowell's, Bagpiper Liquor Variants Over Flavor Concerns The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken enforcement action against several alcoholic beverage manufacturers for alleged violations of food safety regulations, specifically related to the use of artificial flavors that mislead consumers about the natural composition of spirits. The regulator’s investigations revealed that some producers were adding flavors externally to products primarily made from neutral spirit or neutral alcohol, rather than developing flavor naturally through maturation or the use of base ingredients like molasses, malt, or grapes. This practice, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, could deceive consumers by mimicking the aroma and taste of standard spirits such as rum or whisky. The ministry emphasized that these products, marketed as standard categories like rum or whisky, should instead be labeled as "Rum-flavoured Spirit" or "Whisky-flavoured Spirit" to reflect their true nature. Additionally, the packaging failed to adequately disclose the artificial flavoring, which the regulator argued could mislead buyers. Laboratory tests conducted on sampled products confirmed that the addition of artificial flavors was masking the natural flavor, resulting in substandard quality. The ministry further highlighted that the failure to label such products as flavoured or premix variants could distort consumer expectations. A key point of contention was the "7 Years Old Blended" claim on an Old Monk XXX Rum variant. The investigation found that the product’s primary ingredient was neutral, unmatured spirit, with matured rum spirit comprising less than 5% of the blend.#fssai #united_spirits #old_monk #bagpiper #mohan_rocky_springwater
Flavouring Neutral Alcohol Isn't Right in Spirit The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive prohibiting the addition of "rum flavour" to rum or "whisky flavour" to whisky in standard products, citing concerns over consumer misrepresentation. The regulator emphasized that the practice of artificially replicating the taste and aroma of distilled spirits like rum and whisky through neutral alcohol and synthetic flavouring substances undermines the natural characteristics of these beverages. According to FSSAI, such methods mask the true nature of the products, which should develop their distinct profiles through traditional processes like fermentation, distillation, and maturation. The decision followed inspections revealing that some manufacturers were producing beverages primarily from neutral alcohol—lacking inherent flavour—and then adding identical flavouring agents to mimic the profiles of rum or whisky. FSSAI clarified that these products should be labelled as "rum-flavoured spirit" or "whisky-flavoured spirit," with clear front-of-pack disclosures to inform consumers of their artificial composition. Laboratory tests on samples from multiple manufacturers confirmed the presence of artificial or nature-identical flavours, which the regulator argued rendered the products sub-standard under existing regulations. The directive specifically targeted several companies, including Mohan Rocky Springwater, United Spirits, INBREW Beverages, and Associated Alcohol & Breweries, which were found to be violating the guidelines. FSSAI also issued notices to six producers in Maharashtra and inspected Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa.#united_spirits #food_safety_and_standards_authority_of_india #mohan_rocky_springwater #inbrew_beverages #associated_alcohol_and_breweries
