The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now taken action against manufacturing units producing rum and whiskey. The authorities have stated that some of the people manufacturing alcoholic beverages of well-known brands are relying on added flavours instead of natural maturation and have called their product labels “misleading”.
Flavoured Rum & Whiskey Being Sold In The Markets?
Do you often buy rum and whiskey for your house parties? If yes, then you should know that some manufacturing units of popular rum and whiskey brands are using added flavours instead of relying on the natural maturation of base materials such as molasses or malt to develop the taste and aroma of the products.
As per a report by The Indian Express, these brands include Old Monk, McDowell’s, Bagpiper, Antiquity Blue and Royal Challenge. The FSSAI has now taken action against these manufacturing units. The officials believe that such products are not only substandard, but their labels are also misleading. According to them, instead of being called rum and whiskey, they should be identified as rum-flavoured spirit or whiskey-flavoured spirit.
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Why Has FSSAI Taken This Action?
Be it rum, whiskey or any other alcoholic beverage, its characteristic aroma and flavour are derived from the fermentation of base materials. For example, molasses for rum or malt for whiskey, along with yeast activity, distillation and the maturation process. According to The Indian Express, the food regulator stated that the use of natural or nature-identical flavouring substances, such as coffee or vanilla, is permitted under the regulations.
However, certain manufacturers were adding the flavour of the standardised alcoholic beverage itself, which is concerning. The addition of rum flavour to rum or whiskey flavour to whiskey is not permitted. The FSSAI stressed that failing to describe the product as “flavoured rum” or “rum-flavoured spirit” was deceptive for consumers. Based on laboratory findings, the food regulator has now prohibited the sale of products manufactured at certain units producing these brands.
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What do you think of this action by FSSAI? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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FAQs
Why has FSSAI taken action against some manufacturers of rum and whiskey?
Some manufacturing units of popular rum and whiskey brands were using artificial flavours instead of relying on the natural maturation process.