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India regulator warns Diageo whisky oak cask claim misleading

India regulator warns Diageo whisky oak cask claim misleading
FSSAI challenges Diageo's 'matured in American oak casks' whisky claim, calls it misleading · telegraphindia.com

Whisky is a strong drink that is supposed to be kept in wooden barrels so it gets its taste and colour, which is called maturing.

A big drinks company called Diageo wrote on some of its whisky bottles that the drink was 'matured in American oak casks'.

A government group in India called FSSAI checked the bottles and said that claim was not really true.

The group said most of the whisky was a plain spirit that was never matured in wooden barrels at all.

The government group also said the companies used added flavours instead of letting the drinks age properly.

Because of this, India said some of these drinks cannot be sold anymore.

The banned drinks include Royal Challenge and Antiquity Blue whisky, plus a rum and whisky made by another company called Inbrew.

Diageo says it follows the highest quality standards and is talking to the government about the labels.

The government thinks the labels can mislead people who buy the drinks, and the checks are part of a big review of India's alcohol business.

Key facts

Regulator
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Notice date
July 20
Banned products
Royal Challenge Whisky and Antiquity Blue Whisky (Diageo); Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum (Inbrew)
Production state
Madhya Pradesh
Industry size
India's $40 billion alcohol industry
Royal Challenge sales
Over 4.5 million nine-litre cases sold annually in India
Retail price (Uttar Pradesh)
360 Indian rupees ($3.80) per 375ml bottle
Company response
United Spirits anticipates no financial implications; actively engaging with FSSAI on labelling

Quotes

United Spirits (Diageo India)

Local unit of Diageo operating in India

“United Spirits told Reuters that it remains committed to the highest quality standards and was 'actively engaging with FSSAI to address their queries on labelling'.”
livemint.com
“Your product has a grain neutral spirit as second ingredient after demineralised water, and major portion is non-matured spirit.”
livemint.com

Sources

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