Popular whisky and rum brands face FSSAI ban over flavouring practices

India's food safety regulator has prohibited the sale of several popular whisky and rum products after inspections found the use of flavouring practices that it said did not comply with accepted standards.

According to a Reuters report, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) identified the affected products as being manufactured by Diageo India's United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater. The regulator said the companies used artificial flavouring to achieve taste and aroma in certain products.

Regulator questions production process

The FSSAI said existing rules allow alcoholic beverages to contain natural flavouring substances. However, inspections at factories operated by Diageo and Inbrew found flavouring corresponding to the same category of liquor being added during production.

"There is no internationally recognised manufacturing practice whereby rum flavour is added to rum or whisky flavour is added to whisky," the FSSAI said in a statement on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The regulator added that such methods could reduce the need for proper maturation or dependence on traditional ingredients such as molasses, malt and grapes.

Popular brands among those affected

The order applies to United Spirits' Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured in Madhya Pradesh. It also covers Inbrew Beverages' Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum produced in the same state.

Three variants of Old Monk, manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater in Maharashtra, have also been included in the action.

The FSSAI said laboratory tests found the products to be "sub-standard due to the presence of external artificial or nature identical flavours in the product," according to Reuters.

Industry seeks clarity

The report said industry executives questioned the regulator's interpretation, maintaining that the use of flavouring was in line with Indian regulations.

It also remains unclear whether the restriction is limited to products manufactured at the inspected facilities or extends to the same brands produced elsewhere. Reuters reported that the FSSAI had not responded to requests seeking clarification on the scope of the order.

The move follows another recent regulatory step in which the FSSAI directed companies to stop marketing high-caffeine beverages as "energy drinks", signalling tighter oversight of the food and beverage sector.