Artificial flavouring triggers regulatory action
Key Highlights
- FSSAI bars sale of selected liquor variants.
- Old Monk, Bagpiper and Royal Challenge affected.
- Artificial flavouring found during laboratory testing.
- Regulator cites violation of manufacturing standards.
- Action covers products from specific manufacturing units.
- Companies yet to issue detailed responses.
- Liquor industry faces tighter regulatory scrutiny.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the suspension of sales of selected variants of popular liquor brands, including Old Monk, Royal Challenge Whisky, Antiquity Blue Whisky, and Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, after laboratory tests reportedly detected the use of artificial or nature-identical flavouring that does not comply with prescribed manufacturing standards.
According to the regulator, the affected products include Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured by United Spirits (Diageo India) in Madhya Pradesh, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum produced by Inbrew Beverages in Madhya Pradesh, and three variants of Old Monk manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater in Maharashtra.
FSSAI stated that Indian food safety regulations permit the use of natural flavouring substances in alcoholic beverages. However, its investigation found that certain manufacturers allegedly added external artificial or nature-identical flavours designed to replicate the taste and aroma of the alcoholic beverage itself, such as whisky flavour in whisky or rum flavour in rum.
The regulator said such practices are not recognised under standard international manufacturing methods and could potentially bypass traditional production processes, including natural maturation and the use of core ingredients such as malt, molasses or grapes.
Based on laboratory findings, FSSAI concluded that the tested products were sub-standard because of the presence of external artificial or nature-identical flavouring. The authority has therefore prohibited their sale under the applicable food safety regulations.
It remains unclear whether the restriction applies only to products manufactured at the identified production facilities or extends to the same brands produced at other manufacturing locations. The regulator has not yet issued further clarification on the scope of the order.
The companies named in the action, including United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages, and Mohan Rocky Springwater, had not issued detailed public responses at the time of reporting.
The development comes as India’s food safety regulator increases enforcement across the food and beverage sector. Industry executives have reportedly expressed concern over the interpretation of flavouring regulations, maintaining that such ingredients were believed to be permissible under existing standards.
India remains one of the world’s largest alcoholic beverage markets, with annual industry revenues estimated at around USD 40 billion. The latest regulatory action is expected to prompt manufacturers to review production practices and compliance procedures while awaiting further clarification from FSSAI.
