FSSAI cracks down on Old Monk, McDowell's over fake flavouring and age claims
Synopsis
FSSAI has banned the sale of Old Monk, McDowell's No.1 Rum, Bagpiper Whisky and three other brands after lab tests found manufacturers were using external flavours to fake the taste of standardised spirits — and slapping misleading age claims on labels. The crackdown spans five production units across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, with six more Maharashtra manufacturers served notices.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI issued prohibition-of-sale orders against products from five manufacturing units across Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh , and Goa .
Affected brands include Old Monk rum variants , McDowell's No.1 Rum , Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky , Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum , Antiquity Blue Whisky , and Royal Challenge Whisky .
Lab tests found manufacturers adding external artificial or nature-identical flavours to spirit or extra-neutral alcohol to mimic rum and whisky.
The '7 years old blended' claim on an Old Monk XXX Rum variant was flagged as misleading under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 .
Six additional manufacturers in Maharashtra have been served notices; inspections also conducted at Mandexi Distilleries in Goa .
The MoHFW clarified the action does not cover the entire alcohol industry — several manufacturers remain compliant.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued prohibition-of-sale orders against several major alcoholic beverage brands — including Old Monk rum and McDowell's No.1 Rum — for allegedly using external flavours to mimic standardised spirits and making misleading age-related claims on product labels, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) confirmed on 3 August.
What the Violations Involve
According to the ministry, investigations revealed that certain manufacturers were producing rum and whisky primarily from spirit or extra-neutral alcohol (ENA) and then adding artificial or nature-identical flavours externally to recreate the sensory profile of standardised products. Laboratory testing of sampled products across multiple manufacturers confirmed the presence of such external flavouring agents.
'Such products are not only sub-standard but are also misrepresented by using the names of standard categories,' the ministry said, adding that consumers were not adequately informed about the true nature of the products on front-of-pack labelling.
Brands and Units Named in Orders
FSSAI's prohibition orders cover products manufactured at Mohan Rocky Springwater's Khopoli unit, United Spirits' Baramati facility, INBREW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh, Associated Alcohol & Breweries in Madhya Pradesh, and a United Spirits unit also in Madhya Pradesh. The affected brands are Old Monk rum variants, McDowell's No.1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, Antiquity Blue Whisky, and Royal Challenge Whisky.
Separately, inspections and sampling were conducted at Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa, while notices were issued to six other manufacturers in Maharashtra.
The Age Claim Controversy
The ministry specifically flagged the '7 years old blended' claim on an Old Monk XXX Rum variant as misleading. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, the age claim of any blended spirit must be determined by the youngest spirit in the blend — a standard the product allegedly did not meet.
What Is and Is Not Permitted
The ministry drew a clear regulatory line: flavouring substances such as coffee and vanilla remain permitted where legally allowed and backed by legitimate technological justification. The current enforcement action, however, concerns the addition of flavours that directly represent the standardised beverage itself — rum flavour added to rum, or whisky flavour added to whisky — which regulators consider a misrepresentation of product character.
Industry-Wide Impact and What Comes Next
The ministry was careful to note that the action does not indict the entire alcohol industry, and that several manufacturers continue to operate in compliance with prescribed standards. Notably, this crackdown signals a sharpening of FSSAI's enforcement posture on spirit authenticity — an area that has historically received less regulatory scrutiny than food adulteration. Further inspections and notices to additional manufacturers are expected as the investigation widens.
Point of View
Character-rich rum or whisky. The fact that household names like Old Monk and McDowell's — brands with decades of consumer trust — are among those named underscores how systemic the practice may be. FSSAI's move is overdue, but the harder question is enforcement depth: prohibition orders on specific units are a start, but without mandatory front-of-pack disclosure norms for all spirit categories, consumers remain in the dark about what is in their bottle. The age-claim violation on Old Monk XXX is particularly pointed — it strikes at the heart of premium positioning in a market where 'years aged' is a key purchase signal.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has FSSAI taken action against Old Monk and McDowell's?
FSSAI issued prohibition-of-sale orders after laboratory tests found that these brands' products were made primarily from spirit or extra-neutral alcohol with external artificial flavours added to mimic the taste of rum or whisky — a violation of food safety regulations. The authority also flagged misleading age-related claims on certain product labels.
Which brands and manufacturing units are affected by the FSSAI order?
The prohibition covers Old Monk rum variants, McDowell's No.1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, Antiquity Blue Whisky, and Royal Challenge Whisky. The units named are Mohan Rocky Springwater's Khopoli plant, United Spirits' Baramati facility, INBREW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh, Associated Alcohol & Breweries in Madhya Pradesh, and a United Spirits unit in Madhya Pradesh.
What is wrong with the 'Old Monk 7 years old blended' age claim?
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, the age of a blended spirit must be determined by the youngest spirit in the blend. The ministry described the '7 years old blended' claim on the Old Monk XXX Rum variant as misleading because it does not reflect this standard.
Are all flavours in alcohol now banned by FSSAI?
No. The MoHFW clarified that flavouring substances such as coffee and vanilla remain permitted where legally allowed and supported by legitimate technological justification. The ban specifically targets flavours that replicate the standardised beverage itself — for example, rum flavour added to rum or whisky flavour added to whisky.
Does this action affect the entire Indian alcohol industry?
No. The ministry explicitly stated that the action is limited to specific non-compliant manufacturers and that several producers continue to meet prescribed food safety standards. However, notices have been issued to six additional manufacturers in Maharashtra, suggesting the investigation may widen.
