Peg of doubt: Is your whisky really what the label says?
The FSSAI in India is cracking down on alcohol manufacturers who use artificial flavorings to mimic the taste of aged spirits. The regulator is concerned that consumers are being misled by labels claiming products are 'aged' or 'matured' when they may rely on additives.
Why it matters
This highlights regulatory efforts to protect consumer rights and ensure transparency in the food and beverage industry regarding product authenticity.
NEW DELHI: Next time you pour yourself a peg of whiskey, there may be one question worth asking before the first sip: is that distinctive taste really coming from the spirit, the wood, and years of maturation, or has some of it been recreated with added flavoring?That question has suddenly become relevant for Indian drinkers after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stepped up scrutiny of alcoholic beverages over alleged violations involving flavor additives and age-related claims.Problem is not just 'flavored alcohol'At the heart of the controversy is a distinction easily lost in the noise.FSSAI does not imply that all flavoring substances are illegal in all alcoholic drinks.It is concerned with the use of flavors to replicate the characteristic profile of a spirit in products where that character is expected to derive from the raw materials and the manufacturing process itself.In layman’s terms, the regulator is raising…
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