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Ashwani Maindola, New DelhiTHE Food Safety and Stan- dards Authority of India (FS- SAI) has initiated enforcement action against select alcoholic beverage manufacturers following non-compliance with existing safety regulations, specifically, the unauthorised addition of external flavourings to mimic standardised spirits and deceptive age claims.FSSAI revealed that certain manufacturers have been using neutral alcohol, which lacks natural flavour, and adding external artificial or nature-identical flavours (such as adding rum flavour to rum or whisky flavour to whisky) rather than developing flavour through traditional fermentation, distillation, and aging.Laboratory tests confirmed that these added flavours mask the natural profile, rendering the products substandard.FSSAI clarified that while flavours like vanilla or coffee are permitted when technologically justified, adding identical flavours to mimic the core spirit serves no legitimate function and misleads consumers. Under labelling rules, such products should be labelled as %u201cRumflavoured Spirit%u201d or %u201cWhiskyflavoured Spirit%u201d.FSSAI investigation findings also exposed misleading age declarations. Notably, a %u201c7 years old blended%u201d claim on an Old Monk XXX Rum variant was found to contain less than five per cent matured rum spirit, with neutral spirit making up the vast majority. Under FSSAI regulations, any age claim on a spirit blend must strictly reflect the age of the youngest spirit present in the product.Based on non-conforming lab tests, FSSAI issued sale prohibitions for specific brands, including Old Monk Rum variants (Mohan Rocky Springwater), McDowell%u2019s No. 1 Rum, Antiquity Blue Whisky, and Royal Challenge Whisky (United Spirits), alongside products from INBREW Beverages and Associated Alcohol & Breweries. Inspections were also conducted in Goa, and notices were served to six additional manufacturers in Maharashtra.R.N.I. No. MAHENG/2008/24248 August 16-31, 2026 `60A Saffron Media Publication www.fnbnews.com, Mumbai Vol 18. Issue 19 Pages - 16I n d i a %u2019 s F i r s t N e w s p a p e r F o r T h e F&B I n d u s t r yFSSAI crackdown on alcoholicbeverage manufacturersScan QR codeto read FnBNewsAdvertisers%u2019 Index uPage 14Food samples fail to meet safety and quality standardsAshwani Maindola, New DelhiEnforcement actions by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) revealed that nearly one in every five food samples tested across the country during the 2025%u201326 financial year failed to meet safety and quality standards.According to statutory data provided by the food regulator, out of 2,23,808 food samples analysed in FY 2025%u201326, a total of 40,023 were declared %u201cnon-conforming%u201d, comprising 9,086 unsafe samples, 26,754 substandard samples, and 4,225 samples with labelling defects, misleading claims, or miscellaneous infractions.The provisional figures highlight a sharp, multi-year escalation in food safety enforcement across India:FY 2025%u201326 (provisional until March 31, 2026): 2,23,808 samples analysed, 40,023 nonconforming, 31,878 civil penalties (Rs 109.11 crore) with 1,918 criminal convictions and Rs 5.70 crore criminal penalties.FY 2024%u201325: 1,70,535 samples analysed, 34,388 non-conforming, 30,142 civil penalties (Rs 35.74 crore), 1,265 criminal convictions (Rs 3.03 crore)FY 2023%u201324: 1,70,513 samples analysed, 33,808 non-conforming, 29,586 civil penalties (Rs 74.12 crore) and 1,161 criminal convictions(Rs 2.67 crore)FY 2022%u201323: 1,77,511 samples analysed, 44,626 non-conforming, 28,464 civil penalties (Rs 33.23 crore) | 1,188 criminal convictions (Rs 2.75 crore)Meanwhile, the regulator has significantly tightened oversight on digital food platforms following a rise in consumer complaints regarding contaminated, expired, spoiled, or rotten food deliveries.Under FSSAI guidelines, ecommerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) are mandated to list only verified, licensed sellers, enforce front-of-pack display labelling, ensure minimum shelf life, train delivery personnel, maintain strict hygiene standards under Schedule 4 of the Licensing Regulations, and immediately delist noncompliant merchants.Reiterating these responsibilities through statutory advisories issued on December 3, 2024, and July 23, 2026, the national food regulator directed digital aggregators to execute immediate corrective measures or face punitive measures under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Industry experts point out that while the surge in sample testing and monetary penalties represents positive regulatory momentum, the numbers highlight systemic operational gaps.Ashwin Bhadri, CEO Equinox Labs opined that India is testing more food, finding more non-compliance, and penalising businesses more aggressively. That is a positive step. But the real question is: are businesses becoming better at preventing these failures?%u201cIn my experience, the bigger problem is that many businesses still treat food safety as a documentation exercise. They focus on getting the license, completing the paperwork, and preparing for an audit. But food safety is not something you should %u2018prepare for%u2019 when an inspector walks in. It has to be built into the way the business operates every single day,%u201d said Bhadri.Bhadri added that the nonconforming samples are therefore important, but the industry needs to look beyond that number. The provisional data for the current fiscal shows around 40000 samples classified as substandard, which reveals that conversations around food safety cannot be limited about unsafe food. Quality controls, raw material checks, process controls, labelling and claims all need equal attention.%u201cThe increased scrutiny of e-commerce is also inevitable. Once food is sold through a digital platform, responsibility doesn%u2019t disappear at the manufacturer%u2019s gate. Seller verification, storage, shelf life, handling and delivery all become part of the food safety chain. The direction is right. But ultimately, we should measure the success of enforcement by how much non-compliance we prevent, not just how many violations we catch,%u201d said Bhadri.