FSSAI Halts Sales of Old Monk, McDowell’s, Bagpiper, Royal Challenge: Artificial Flavouring Violation Explained

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered a halt to the sale of ten specific alcoholic beverage variants from India’s most recognizable spirits brands, following factory inspections and laboratory tests that found the use of artificial flavouring agents to mimic the natural taste of rum and whisky, and false age claims on product labels. The regulatory action, confirmed on August 3, 2026, targets products from three major manufacturers including Diageo India’s United Spirits, Inbrew Beverages, and Mohan Rocky Springwater.

Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, adding artificial or nature-identical flavourings that imitate a spirit’s natural taste is prohibited. The regulator stated that tests conducted at Diageo and Inbrew factories found that flavour corresponding to the drink’s category was added, and since flavouring can be used to mask neutral spirits, this might lead companies to skip proper maturation.

The FSSAI action targets products manufactured at specific facilities including Mohan Rocky Springwater in Khopoli (Maharashtra) producing Old Monk The Legend, Gold Reserve, and XXX Matured Rum; United Spirits in Baramati (Maharashtra) producing McDowell’s No. 1 Rum; United Spirits in Madhya Pradesh producing Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky; and INBREW Beverages in Madhya Pradesh producing Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum.

FSSAI emphasized that flavouring eliminates the need for companies to use ingredients traditionally involved in making spirits, such as molasses, malt and grapes. According to investigations, manufacturers were producing alcoholic beverages mainly from spirit or extra-neutral alcohol and later adding flavours to recreate the sensory characteristics of products such as rum and whisky.

The regulatory action does not apply to the brands as a whole, but is limited to specific variants that FSSAI says do not comply with prescribed food safety standards. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarified that the action is about flavouring standards and labeling compliance, not about products being counterfeit, toxic, or “fake liquor.”

United Spirits, which owns brands including Royal Challenge, McDowell’s and Antiquity Blue, has said its product labels comply with existing laws and that it is pursuing legal remedies. FSSAI has issued notices to multiple alcohol manufacturers including Diageo, Mohan Rocky Springwater, INBREW Beverages and Associated Alcohol & Breweries, with six other companies also receiving notices.

The ban represents the most significant regulatory crackdown on India’s spirits industry in recent years, affecting millions of consumers who regularly purchase these accessible, widely-consumed brands. The distinguishing characteristic of this action is that the government has been explicit that the products are not counterfeit or dangerous, but rather fail to meet manufacturing standards regarding artificial flavouring and misleading age labeling.

As the liquor industry navigates this regulatory uncertainty, the action underscores FSSAI’s commitment to enforcing manufacturing standards and protecting consumer interests while manufacturers pursue legal remedies and clarification regarding compliance pathways.