Archive · 3 Sep 2026
FSSAI Says Old Monk Cannot Be Sold As Rum
India’s food regulator says some Old Monk products should not be called rum.
It says they are made with neutral spirit and rum flavouring.
The regulator believes the product should be called a “rum-flavoured spirit” instead.
The dispute is about what the drink really is, not only about the words on its label.
The company agreed to change parts of the label.
One change would remove the words “7 years old blended.”
The court was concerned that shoppers might think the drink had been aged for seven years.
The regulator will now study the new labels before the court considers the case again.
FSSAI told the Bombay High Court that Old Monk cannot be sold as rum because it uses neutral spirit and rum flavouring.
The regulator said the product could instead be labeled a “rum-flavoured spirit.”
Old Monk submitted revised labels after agreeing to remove the phrase “7 years old blended.”
FSSAI requested more time to review the labels, with the next hearing scheduled for 11 September.
The company’s counsel said Old Monk had lost ₹1 crore per day during the 120-day ban.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Old Monk producer Mohan Rocky Springwater, and the Bombay High Court are involved.
- What
- FSSAI is challenging the sale and labeling of certain Old Monk variants as rum.
- When
- The court’s next hearing is scheduled for 11 September; the company said the ban had lasted 120 days.
- Where
- The dispute is before the Bombay High Court in India.
- Why
- FSSAI says laboratory tests found external artificial or nature-identical flavouring substances and that the product’s composition does not permit it to be sold as rum.
FSSAI’s position
Company’s position
Product classification
FSSAI’s position
FSSAI says the product is made with neutral spirit and rum flavouring, so it cannot be sold as rum.
Company’s position
The company submitted revised labels to address the dispute, but the article does not report a separate public challenge to FSSAI’s product classification.
Labeling changes
FSSAI’s position
FSSAI wants packaging that clearly distinguishes the product and is reviewing the revised labels before approval.
Company’s position
Old Monk agreed to remove “7 years old blended” and presented revised labels to the court.
Financial impact
FSSAI’s position
FSSAI’s regulatory action has kept the disputed products under a sales ban.
Company’s position
The company’s counsel said it suffered losses of ₹1 crore per day during the 120-day ban.
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Product at issue
- Certain Old Monk rum variants
- Proposed description
- “Rum-flavoured spirit”
- Label change
- Removal of the phrase “7 years old blended”
- Company’s reported loss
- ₹1 crore per day
- Ban duration cited
- 120 days
- Next hearing
- 11 September