India’s food safety regulator has prohibited the sale of select whisky and rum products manufactured by United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater after laboratory tests detected external artificial or nature-identical flavouring.
What happens when whisky or rum gets its characteristic taste from an added flavour designed to imitate the spirit itself?
India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has barred the sale of select medlink>alcoholic beverages after laboratory tests detected external artificial or nature-identical flavouring.
The affected products were manufactured by United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater. FSSAI classified the tested products as “sub-standard” because of the presence of these external flavours, according to Reuters.
Advertisement
Popular Indian Liquor Products Face Restrictions
The sale restrictions reportedly cover Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured by United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh.
They also include Inbrew Beverages’ Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum produced in the same state. Three Old Monk variants manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater in Maharashtra were also included in the regulatory action.
These locally manufactured products are popular partly because they are considerably more affordable than many imported whiskies, rums and Scotch products.
Advertisement
FSSAI Objects to Flavors That Imitate The Spirit
FSSAI permits certain natural flavoring substances in alcoholic beverages. However, the regulator objected to manufacturers adding whisky flavor to whisky or rum flavor to rum.
“There is no internationally recognized manufacturing practice whereby rum flavour is added to rum or whisky flavor is added to whisky,” FSSAI said.
According to the regulator, using such flavoring could allow manufacturers to recreate taste and aroma without depending fully on maturation or ingredients traditionally used to develop the character of spirits, including molasses, malt and grapes.
Advertisement
Nature-Identical Flavorings Replicate Natural Compounds
Nature-identical flavoring substances are chemically synthesized compounds designed to reproduce flavors naturally found in food or beverages.(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
India bars some Diageo, Inbrew liquor over artificial flavouring
)
Although these compounds may resemble naturally occurring flavors, food regulators determine how and where they may be used. FSSAI’s objection in this case is not directed at every type of flavoring used in alcoholic beverages.
The concern specifically involves adding whisky- or rum-like flavoring to products marketed as whisky or rum, where the characteristic taste is expected to result from permitted ingredients and established manufacturing processes.(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
India bars some Diageo, Inbrew liquor over artificial flavouring
Scope Of the Sales Restrictions Remains Unclear
It remains unclear whether the restrictions apply nationwide to every bottle sold under the affected brand names or only to products manufactured at the facilities inspected by FSSAI.
The regulatory action therefore should not automatically be interpreted as a nationwide prohibition covering every variant or production unit associated with these brands.
Further clarification may be needed to determine the geographical and manufacturing scope of the prohibition-of-sale orders.
Manufacturers Have Not Issued Detailed Responses
United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater did not immediately respond publicly to media requests for comment.(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
India bars some Diageo, Inbrew liquor over artificial flavouring
)
Two unnamed industry executives told Reuters that companies were concerned about the orders and believed that the use of flavoring complied with existing Indian regulations.
This suggests that the interpretation of India’s flavoring standards could become an important point of disagreement between the regulator and the alcoholic beverage industry.
Regulatory Action Could Affect India’s Liquor Market
India is among the world’s largest alcohol markets, with annual sales estimated at approximately $40 billion. United Spirits, owned by Diageo, is the country’s largest alcohol company by market share.
The restrictions affect widely consumed domestic products in the more affordable segment of the market. However, the commercial impact will depend partly on whether the orders apply only to specific facilities or extend more broadly.
The action also comes amid increased FSSAI scrutiny of the food and beverage sector, including product labelling, permitted ingredients and compliance with manufacturing standards.
References:
- India bars some Diageo, Inbrew liquor over artificial flavouring- (https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-bars-some-diageo-inbrew-liquor-over-flavouring-violations-2026-08-02/)
Source-Medindia