New Delhi: The controversy over selling Old Monk as rum has now reached the Bombay High Court. In the court, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that the true nature of the product is more important than its name or label. According to the regulator, Old Monk mainly uses neutral spirit, hence it can be classified as rum flavored spirit.
The lawyer appearing on behalf of FSSAI in the court said that the matter is not just about the name written on the bottle. The type of spirit used in the product is more important. According to the regulator, rum flavor has been mixed with neutral spirit in it. The company has made changes in its label and presented the new label to FSSAI. However, the regulator has asked for some more time from the court to investigate and review them. The next hearing will be on September 11.
Action was taken on sale in Maharashtra
The controversy came to light after the action taken against the sale of Old Monk in Maharashtra. During testing, flavoring substances along with neutral spirit were found in the product. After this FSSAI had banned its sale. The company later agreed to change the packaging and made the added flavor prominent on the bottle.
FSSAI keeps an eye on many products
FSSAI’s action is not limited to Old Monk only. The regulator is investigating the use of extraneous flavours, age-related claims and misleading labeling in several products. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, some manufacturers were using flavors that make the products taste and smell like rum or whiskey. The ministry says such products should be offered as rum flavored spirits or whiskey flavored spirits as per their true nature.
Question on the claim of 7 years old also
During investigation, the inscription “7 years old blended” on the bottle of Old Monk XXX Rum was also found to be misleading. According to officials, the main quantity in it was unmatured neutral spirit, while the matured rum spirit was less than 5 percent. As per the rules, the age of a mixed spirit should be claimed on the basis of the youngest spirit present in it.