The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated action against several liquor manufacturers over alleged violations of food safety and labelling regulations. The action covers companies manufacturing brands including Old Monk, McDowell's, Bagpiper, Antiquity Blue and Royal Challenge. According to the regulator, the companies are accused of using unauthorised flavouring agents and making misleading claims regarding product ageing, in violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
According to the FSSAI, inspections and laboratory tests found that some manufacturers added external "rum flavour" to rum and "whisky flavour" to whisky instead of allowing flavour and aroma to develop naturally through raw materials, fermentation, distillation and maturation. The regulator stated that products primarily made from neutral alcohol or extra-neutral alcohol should be labelled as "rum-flavoured spirit" or "whisky-flavoured spirit" rather than being sold as standard rum or whisky. It also alleged that the true nature of such products was not disclosed on the front of the packaging, which could mislead consumers.
The FSSAI also described several sampled products as being of inferior quality, stating that artificial or nature-identical flavours were used to mask their natural characteristics. It termed the "7 Years Old Blended" claim on the Old Monk XXX Rum variant misleading, stating that the product consisted mainly of unaged neutral spirit while matured rum spirit accounted for less than five per cent of the blend. The regulator carried out inspections at Mandexi Distilleries and Breweries in Goa, issued notices to six manufacturers in Maharashtra, and clarified that the action does not prohibit legally permitted flavourings such as coffee or vanilla. It also granted conditional relief to two manufacturers, allowing them to sell existing stock after clearly disclosing the product's true nature on the front label and directing them to discontinue such flavouring practices in future production.