Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 5: In a shock to liquor consumers, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated strict enforcement action against several liquor manufacturers for violating food safety regulations.

The authority stated that the use of artificial additives can mislead consumers by mimicking the natural aroma and taste of standard liquors.

Investigations revealed that some manufacturers are primarily adding external flavours to products made from neutral spirits, rather than developing the flavours naturally through base ingredients like molasses, malt, or grapes, the ministry of health and family welfare stated.

According to the ministry, such products are being marketed under standard categories like rum or whisky, whereas they should accurately be labelled as 'rum-flavoured spirit' or 'whisky-flavoured spirit'. The ministry highlighted that the packaging completely fails to disclose the true nature of these products to the buyers.

The regulator collected samples of rum and whisky products from multiple manufacturers and sent them for laboratory testing. According to the ministry, the lab reports concluded that the addition of artificial flavours was masking the natural aroma and rendering the products substandard. Failing to label such products as flavoured or premix variants could easily mislead the public, it added.

The ministry specifically noted that the '7 years old blended' claim on the Old Monk XXX rum variant is highly misleading. Investigations showed that the product's primary ingredient was a neutral, unmatured spirit, with the matured rum spirit making up less than 5% of the blend. The ministry noted that this is a direct violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.

Based on the laboratory findings, authorities have banned the sale of specific products manufactured by the Khopoli unit of Mohan Rocky Springwater, which include 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.

Other brands that have come under the purview of this action include 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 Alcohols & Breweries in Madhya Pradesh; and Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured by United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh.

Separately, inspections and product sampling were conducted at the premises of Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa. Notices have been issued to six other manufacturers in Maharashtra, and further regulatory action is expected based on the outcome of the ongoing investigations, the ministry added.