FSSAI cracks down on liquor makers over flavouring, age-related label claims

Food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to manufacturers of alcoholic beverages over alleged violations of regulations relating to the use of added flavours and age-related claims on product labels.

In a post on X on Friday, the regulator said it had issued notices to alcoholic beverage manufacturers for alleged non-compliance with regulatory provisions concerning added flavours and misleading age-related claims.

"The FBOs have been directed to submit explanation as to why action should not be initiated against them," FSSAI said.

According to the regulator, the notices have been issued to Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages and licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, for alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.

FSSAI said it had found that certain manufacturers were blending added flavours that mimic a product's natural profile in categories such as rum, brandy, gin, malt or grain whisky, wine and beer.

Such practices contravene the regulations, which require these products to possess only their true and natural characteristic taste and aroma, it said.

The regulator also flagged what it termed as misleading age-related claims, saying some manufacturers were using words, synonyms or indirect expressions denoting age without adhering to the provisions of Regulation 1.3.7 of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.

FSSAI said products carrying the word "aged" or other age-related claims had failed to ensure that the declared age referred to the youngest spirit used in the blend, as required under the regulations.

The regulator directed the companies concerned to ensure compliance and explain why action should not be initiated against them under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.