FSSAI clamps down on flavoured rum and whisky labels, forcing product relabelling

India’s food regulator has acted against rum and whisky products carrying non-permitted identical flavouring claims or potentially misleading labels, including an Old Monk age claim. Affected manufacturers must relabel applicable products as flavoured spirits, with more notices and enforcement expected.

— Filed Mon, 3 Aug, 2026, 15:44 IST · Source Times of India · Business · Updated

FSSAI prohibited sale of specific rum and whisky products over non-permitted identical flavouring and misleading labels, including Old Monk’s age claim. Affected manufacturers must relabel products as flavoured spirits where applicable; additional notices and enforcement are expected.

Why this matters

The move extends FSSAI’s recent halt on similarly flavoured rum and whisky labels and its action against alcobev flavours alleged to mask composition, following its 90-day energy-drink label-change order.

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