The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited the sale of several rum and whisky variants, including select Old Monk, McDowell's No. 1, Bagpiper Deluxe, Royal Challenge and Antiquity Blue products. According to the regulator, laboratory testing and inspections identified alleged violations relating to artificial flavouring, age claims and product labelling under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations. FSSAI has stated that affected products should be marketed as flavoured alcoholic beverages where applicable, while inspections and regulatory proceedings continue against multiple manufacturers.

FSSAI Bans Old Monk Variants, McDowell's No. 1 and Other Liquor Brands Over Labelling, Flavouring Concerns

India's food safety watchdog has banned the sale of a number of rum and whisky products for alleged violations of flavouring and labelling rules. This follows several manufacturers who have faced ongoing legal challenges and further inspections.

The FSSAI’s move to ban liquor brands in India has affected many popular rum and whisky brands. These include a few variants of Old Monk, McDowell’s No. 1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, Royal Challenge Whisky and Antiquity Blue Whisky. The ban was based on observations around artificial flavouring and product labelling. This move is a consequence of regulatory inspections and analysis in labs under the food safety framework in India.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned three variants of Old Monk rum – The Legend, Gold Reserve and XXX Matured Rum – after concerns raised by inspectors over the use of artificial flavours in place of recognised maturation methods. These products are manufactured at the Khopoli plant of Mohan Rocky Springwater.

The regulator had also introduced products such as McDowell’s No.1 Rum made by United Spirits at its Baramati plant. The regulatory action also named Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum produced by INBREW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh. 

FSSAI Action Expands Across Multiple Manufacturers and Facilities

The list also includes Central Province Whisky and McDowell's Celebration Rum, made by Associated Alcohol & Breweries in Madhya Pradesh. Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky, also made by United Spirits at its Madhya Pradesh plant, have also been included.

The regulator said inspections were also carried out at Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa. Separate notices have reportedly been issued to six other Maharashtra-based manufacturers, which suggests that further regulatory action may follow pending review of inspection findings.

FSSAI's concerns relate to compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, especially in terms of age statements and composition of alcoholic beverages offered to consumers. 

The Old Monk XXX Matured Rum, the regulator said, carried a claim of “7 years’ blended” but the bulk of the product was neutral, unmatured spirit, with matured rum spirit making up less than five per cent. Such claims shall be true to the youngest spirit used in any blend, FSSAI said.

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Artificial Flavouring and Labelling Practices Under Regulatory Scrutiny

FSSAI clarified that natural flavourings, including ingredients such as coffee or vanilla, remain permissible in alcoholic beverages where allowed under regulations. But the authority distinguished these from the addition of rum flavour to products marketed as rum or whisky flavour to products marketed as whisky.

Such practices were like adding tea flavour to tea, and could mislead consumers as to the true composition, aroma, taste profile and ageing process of a product, the regulator said.

On August 2, the FSSAI issued a public statement saying that there was no international practice to add rum flavour to rum or whisky flavour to whisky and sell the products as normal spirits.

The authority further said laboratory tests on samples of rum and whisky from many manufacturers had revealed evidence of the presence of added artificial or nature-identical flavours. The products concerned were declared as substandard under relevant regulations, the authority said. Apparently, laboratory findings led to the conclusion that such products should be labelled as “flavoured rum” or “premix rum,” as the case may be.

Separately, Diageo India has challenged an order of the FSSAI in this regard before Bombay High Court. The company challenged the order dated June 29 passed under the Food Safety and Standards Act in the court. 

Diageo India said that its labelling practices are compliant with the applicable legal requirements and set industry norms. The company has said there are no legal impediments to its current descriptions of its products.

The moves are some of the biggest regulatory actions to hit India’s alcohol industry in recent times. The inspections continue and legal proceedings progress, meaning manufacturers could face more scrutiny over production methods, flavouring practices and labelling compliance. Sprouts News will keep following official announcements, court proceedings, and further enforcement measures regarding the case.