Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The food safety regulator has barred the sale of certain variants of popular liquor brands, including Old Monk, Antiquity Blue Whisky, Royal Challenge Whisky and Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, after finding they contained artificial flavouring that does not comply with prescribed manufacturing standards, reported news agency Reuters.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said its tests found that some products manufactured by Diageo India’s United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater used external artificial or nature-identical flavours to achieve the taste and aroma of alcoholic beverages instead of relying on natural ingredients and proper maturation processes.
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WHICH BRANDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED?
The regulator has ordered a ban on the sale of:
Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky manufactured by United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh.Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum produced by Inbrew Beverages in Madhya Pradesh.Three variants of Old Monk manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater in Maharashtra.
Reuters reported that it is not immediately clear whether the action applies only to products manufactured at these specific facilities or extends to the same brands produced elsewhere. FSSAI did not respond to Reuters’ queries seeking clarification.
Diageo India, Inbrew Beverages and Mohan Rocky Springwater also did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
WHY DID FSSAI TAKE ACTION?
According to the regulator, Indian food safety rules permit the use of natural flavouring substances in alcoholic beverages.
However, FSSAI said laboratory tests found that some manufacturers were adding flavours of the alcoholic beverage itself—for example, rum flavour in rum or whisky flavour in whisky.
“There is no internationally recognized manufacturing practice whereby rum flavour is added to rum or whisky flavour is added to whisky,” the regulator said in a statement, according to Reuters.
FSSAI added that such practices could allow manufacturers to bypass proper maturation or the use of natural ingredients such as molasses, malt or grapes in the production process.
The regulator concluded that the tested products were “sub-standard due to the presence of external artificial or nature identical flavours in the product,” Reuters reported.
INDUSTRY CONCERNS
Reuters, citing two senior industry executives, reported that the affected companies were concerned about the regulator’s decision.
The executives, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said they believed the use of such flavouring was permitted under Indian regulations.
India is one of the world’s largest alcohol markets, with annual industry revenue estimated at around $40 billion.
Diageo India, through United Spirits, is the country’s largest liquor company by market share, competing with global rival Pernod Ricard.
The brands covered by the FSSAI action are largely domestically manufactured spirits positioned at more affordable price points than imported whisky, Scotch and premium rum, making them widely consumed across the country.
The action comes amid increased scrutiny by FSSAI across the food and beverage sector.
Last week the regulator directed manufacturers of high-caffeine beverages marketed as “energy drinks” to stop using that description, despite attempts by companies including PepsiCo and Red Bull to challenge the move.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
