Delhi, Aug 05: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated enforcement action against several liquor manufacturers for not complying with food safety norms.
It said that the use of additional flavourings can mislead consumers by imitating the natural flavour and taste of standard liquor.
Investigations have found that some manufacturers are adding flavourings externally to products made primarily from neutral spirits or neutral spirits, instead of developing the flavour naturally through the use of base ingredients like molasses, malt or grapes, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said.
According to the ministry, such products are being marketed as standard categories like rum or whisky, though they should be identified as “rum-flavoured spirit” or “whisky-flavoured spirit”. The packaging fails to adequately disclose the true nature of the products, the ministry said.
The regulator has sent samples of rum and whisky products from multiple manufacturers for laboratory testing. According to the ministry, the laboratory reports concluded that “addition of artificial flavours is masking its natural flavour and rendering the product of poor quality”. It said that not labelling such products as flavoured or premix variants could mislead consumers.
The ministry has found that the claim of “7 year old blended” on the Old Monk XXX rum variant is misleading. As per the investigation, the primary ingredient of the product was neutral, unaged liquor, while aged rum liquor constituted less than 5% of the blend. This is in violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Rules, 2018, the ministry said.
Based on the laboratory findings, the authorities have banned the sale of products manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater’s Khopoli unit, including Old Monk The Legend, Old Monk Gold Reserve and Old Monk XXX Matured Rum.
Enforcement action has also been taken against products manufactured by United Spirits at its Baramati unit, including McDowell’s No. 1 Rum.
Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum manufactured by INBREW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh; Central Province Whisky and McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum manufactured by Associated Alcohol & Breweries in Madhya Pradesh; and Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured by United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh are among the other brands covered by the action.
Separate inspections and product sampling were conducted at the premises of Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa. The ministry said notices have been issued to six other manufacturers in Maharashtra, with further regulatory action expected based on the outcome of the investigation.