New Delhi, August 3: The government has expressed its support for the Indian Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) in its actions against certain alcoholic beverage companies. These actions are related to the use of misleading flavoring substances and age claims on product labels.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that several alcohol manufacturers are under scrutiny for allegedly violating existing food safety regulations. These violations include the use of flavors that mimic the genuine aroma and taste of standard alcoholic drinks like rum and whiskey.
Investigations revealed that some producers primarily create alcoholic beverages from spirits or extra-neutral alcohol, later adding external flavors to replicate the scents and tastes associated with products like rum and whiskey.
The ministry noted, “Such products are not only of inferior quality but are also misrepresented by using names of standard categories.” Furthermore, it highlighted that consumers are often not provided with accurate information about the product’s authenticity on the front packaging.
Lab tests of various rum and whiskey samples from several manufacturers revealed the presence of artificial or nature-identical flavors. According to the lab reports, the addition of these flavors masks the product’s natural taste, rendering them substandard under current regulations.
The government specifically mentioned a variant of ‘Old Monk XXX Rum’ that claims to be ‘7 years old blended,’ labeling it as misleading. The ministry clarified that under the ‘Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018,’ the age claim of blended spirits is determined based on the youngest spirit in the blend.
Based on lab findings, the FSSAI has issued orders to halt the sale of products manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater’s Khopoli unit, United Spirits’ Baramati facility, INBRW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh, Associated Alcohol and Breweries, and another unit of United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh.
Affected brands include various types of Old Monk Rum, McDowell’s No. 1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whiskey, Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, Antiquity Blue Whiskey, and Royal Challenge Whiskey.
The ministry also reported that inspections and sampling were conducted at Mandexy Distilleries and Breweries in Goa, while notices were issued to six other manufacturers in Maharashtra.
Clarifying its regulatory stance, the ministry stated that flavoring substances like coffee and vanilla are permitted when legally allowed and backed by valid technical reasons. However, the current case involves flavors that closely resemble those of standardized alcoholic beverages, such as rum flavor in rum or whiskey flavor in whiskey.
The ministry emphasized that this issue does not pertain to the entire alcohol industry, as many manufacturers are producing alcoholic beverages in accordance with established standards.
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