Archive · 3 Aug 2026
FSSAI Bans Fake-Flavored Rum and Whisky Brands
The Food Safety Authority of India, called FSSAI, stopped selling some popular rum and whisky drinks that were made with plain alcohol and then had fake flavors added.
They found that the drinks didn’t taste like real rum or whisky and that some labels said the drinks were older than they really were.
FSSAI said that if a drink has added flavors, it must be labeled as a flavored spirit.
They also told the companies to stop selling the drinks until they fix the problem.
This is to keep people safe and make sure the drinks are honest about what they contain.
FSSAI halted sale of several rum and whisky brands using neutral alcohol spiked with artificial flavors.
Brands affected include Old Monk, McDowell's, United Spirits, INBREW, and Associated Alcohol & Breweries.
Lab tests found added artificial or nature-identical flavors masking natural taste, violating 2018 regulations.
Old Monk's "7 Years Old Blended" label questioned; product contained less than 5% matured rum.
Regulator clarified that flavored spirits must be labeled as "Rum‑flavoured Spirit" or "Whisky‑flavoured Spirit" under 2020 labeling rules.
- Who
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
- What
- Banned sale of rum and whisky brands using neutral alcohol spiked with artificial flavors
- Where
- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa
- Why
- To enforce regulations requiring natural flavor and accurate age claims
- Regulator
- FSSAI
- Affected Brands
- Old Monk, McDowell's, United Spirits, INBREW, Associated Alcohol & Breweries
- Violation Type
- Artificial flavoring and misleading age claims
- Regulations Cited
- Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018; Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020
- Action Taken
- Prohibited sale and issued notices