FSSAI suspends Paradise Distilleries licence for 15 days over safety violations
Synopsis
India's food regulator FSSAI has suspended the licence of Paradise Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. for 15 days after inspectors found expired flavours and colours being used in alcohol manufacturing, broken glass on the premises, grease-covered equipment, and a slew of hygiene, structural, and record-keeping failures — all on a day the same regulator also launched adjudication proceedings against Nestle India over infant nutrition product claims.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI suspended the licence of Paradise Distilleries Pvt.
Ltd. on 18 September 2026 with immediate effect for 15 days .
Expired flavours and colours were found in use during manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, potentially compromising product safety.
Inspectors documented broken glass pieces , a grease-covered bottle rinser, an improperly closed blended tank, and the absence of a glass policy.
Structural failures included improper door fittings , flaking paint, inadequate lighting, and ineffective pest control.
The company also failed to update product labels as directed by the Central Licensing Authority and did not provide a satisfactory response.
Separately on the same day, FSSAI initiated three adjudication cases against Nestle India over infant nutrition product claims for NAN Excella Pro and Lactogen Pro 1 .
India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Friday, 18 September 2026, suspended the licence of Paradise Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. with immediate effect for 15 days, citing serious non-compliances uncovered during an inspection of the company's food premises. The move orders the distillery to halt all food business operations and rectify identified deficiencies within the stipulated period.
Key Violations Found
Among the most critical findings, the FSSAI confirmed that expired flavours and colours were being actively used in the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages — a practice the regulator warned could compromise the safety and quality of finished products.
Hygiene conditions at the facility were also flagged as severely inadequate. According to the FSSAI's official statement, inspectors found an improperly closed final blended tank, a bottle rinser covered with grease and dust, and broken glass pieces on the premises, along with the complete absence of a proper glass policy.
Structural and Operational Failures
The regulator documented a wide range of structural and operational deficiencies, including improper fitting of doors, inadequate lighting and working space, flaking paint and plaster, unhygienic packing conditions, improper storage practices, ineffective pest control, and poor personal hygiene among food handlers.
Non-compliance was additionally recorded across several administrative requirements, including medical examination and vaccination records, protective clothing standards, cleaning schedules, preventive maintenance documentation, pest control records, customer complaint handling mechanisms, and periodic food safety system audits.
Label Non-Compliance
The FSSAI also noted that Paradise Distilleries had failed to make mandatory label changes as directed by the Central Licensing Authority, and had not submitted a satisfactory response to the notice issued in this regard. Label compliance is a core regulatory requirement, and repeated non-response is treated as an aggravating factor in enforcement action.
FSSAI Action Against Nestle India on the Same Day
In a separate but related enforcement development on 18 September, the FSSAI announced it had initiated three adjudication cases against Nestle India over alleged regulatory non-compliance involving infant nutrition products, specifically NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1. The regulator stated it had reviewed product listings and promotional material on e-commerce platforms, flagging certain claims associated with these products.
A Nestle India spokesperson pushed back, asserting that the company's products are fully compliant with all applicable regulations. 'The said products (i.e., NAN EXCELLA PRO and LACTOGEN PRO) and their labels were approved by the expert committee of FSSAI. In response to the notice, we have again submitted our detailed response to the authorities regarding statements appearing on the label, which are factual in nature, and supported by scientific literature,' the spokesperson said.
What Happens Next
Paradise Distilleries has 15 days to address all cited deficiencies for any prospect of licence reinstatement. The FSSAI's simultaneous action against both a distillery and a major FMCG company signals an intensified enforcement posture by India's food regulator heading into the festive season, when food and beverage consumption typically peaks.
Point of View
Broken glass on production floors — but for how comprehensively the facility had apparently been neglected across hygiene, records, and labelling simultaneously. FSSAI's decision to announce both this suspension and the Nestle adjudication on the same day suggests the regulator is signalling a broader crackdown rather than isolated enforcement. What is less clear is whether the 15-day suspension window is genuinely sufficient to remediate deep-rooted structural and operational failures, or whether it functions more as a notice period. The Nestle case, where the company insists labels were FSSAI-approved, also raises the uncomfortable question of regulatory consistency — a point the authority will need to address transparently.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FSSAI suspend the licence of Paradise Distilleries?
FSSAI suspended Paradise Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.'s licence for 15 days on 18 September 2026 after inspectors found expired flavours and colours being used in alcohol manufacturing, severe hygiene and sanitation failures, broken glass on premises, structural deficiencies, and non-compliance with mandatory labelling directives. The company was also found to have not responded satisfactorily to a notice from the Central Licensing Authority.
How long is the Paradise Distilleries licence suspension?
The FSSAI licence has been suspended for 15 days with immediate effect. During this period, Paradise Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. must cease all food business activities and rectify all cited deficiencies for any possibility of reinstatement.
What specific hygiene violations were found at Paradise Distilleries?
Inspectors documented a bottle rinser covered with grease and dust, an improperly closed final blended tank, broken glass pieces without a glass policy, flaking paint and plaster, improper storage, ineffective pest control, and poor personal hygiene among food handlers. Record-keeping failures covered medical, vaccination, cleaning, and pest control documentation.
What is FSSAI's separate action against Nestle India about?
On the same day, FSSAI initiated three adjudication cases against Nestle India over alleged non-compliance related to infant nutrition products NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1. The regulator flagged certain product claims found on e-commerce platforms. Nestle India denied any violation, stating its products and labels had been approved by FSSAI's own expert committee.
What should consumers know about these FSSAI enforcement actions?
Consumers of alcoholic beverages produced by Paradise Distilleries should be aware that the regulator found expired ingredients in use, which could affect product safety and quality. The 15-day suspension halts all production and sales from the facility. The concurrent Nestle case remains at the adjudication stage, meaning no product recall has been announced for the infant nutrition products in question.
