The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has told the Bombay High Court that liquor brand Old Monk cannot be sold or marketed as “rum” because the product is primarily made using neutral spirit and contains artificial rum flavouring, according to reports.
During a hearing on Thursday, FSSAI’s counsel reportedly told the court that the issue concerns the fundamental nature of the product and not merely its labelling. The regulator said the drink could instead be categorised as a “rum-flavoured spirit”.
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Old Monk has submitted revised labels, while FSSAI has sought additional time to examine them. The matter will next be heard on September 11.
The development follows FSSAI action in Maharashtra, where the sale of the product was reportedly banned after testing detected artificial flavouring substances in neutral spirit. The brand subsequently agreed to modify its packaging to prominently mention “added flavor”.
An August 2 statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said FSSAI had taken enforcement action against alcohol manufacturers over non-permitted flavours, misleading labels and age-related claims.
The ministry also said laboratory testing found external flavours in samples of rum and whisky. It flagged Old Monk’s “7 years old blended” claim, stating that neutral, unmatured spirit was the major ingredient while matured rum spirit accounted for less than 5%.
