Now Reading: FSSAI cracks down on flavour additives in whisky, rum
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FSSAI cracks down on flavour additives in whisky, rum
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stepped up scrutiny of alcoholic beverage manufacturers over alleged violations involving flavour additives and age-related claims. The regulator has issued notices asking…
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stepped up scrutiny of alcoholic beverage manufacturers over alleged violations involving flavour additives and age-related claims. The regulator has issued notices asking why action should not be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI is particularly concerned about the addition of flavours that mimic the natural characteristics of spirits like whisky, rum, gin, vodka and brandy, which are supposed to derive their taste from raw materials and manufacturing processes. The regulator has also flagged age-related claims where required disclosures were not made, potentially misleading consumers about the age, quality, or method of production.
The crackdown comes as India, already one of the world's largest whisky markets, is expected to become the second-largest alcohol market globally by 2032. Premiumisation is driving consumers toward expensive bottles where provenance, maturation, and craftsmanship claims are key selling points. The FSSAI has made clear that labels should not create impressions the product cannot support.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The distinction FSSAI is enforcing is technical but commercially huge. Under Indian rules, whisky must derive its character from grain, fermentation, distillation, and cask maturation, added flavours that simulate that character effectively create a counterfeit category at a fraction of the cost. The real question is whether the domestic giants, which rely heavily on blended and mass-market spirits, can comply without reformulating every popular brand. A cask-aged single malt ties up capital for years, flavour chemicals deliver the same sensory profile overnight. If FSSAI bans the practice, the price gap between premium and mass-market whisky may narrow, and consumers who thought they were buying age may have to read the fine print more carefully. The next signal to watch is whether the regulator sets a deadline for removing such additives or allows a transition period.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
