Govt backs FSSAI action against Old Monk, McDowell’s, other brands over flavouring, age claimsThe government said FSSAI action against certain alcohol manufacturers was due to alleged use of external flavours to mimic rum and whisky characteristics and misleading age claims. The ministry said laboratory testing of sampled rum and whisky products across multiple manufacturers found the presence of external artificial or nature-identical flavours. The government also referred to the ‘7 years old blended’ claim on an Old Monk XXX Rum variant, describing it as misleading. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, the age claim of a blended spirit is determined by the youngest spirit in the blend, it added. The affected brands include Old Monk rum variants, McDowell’s No.1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky.