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Informist, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – United Spirits Ltd. has moved the Bombay High Court against the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's notice to it for not complying with provisions on the prohibited use of added flavours, misleading age-related claims, and blend age disclosures. The food regulator had alleged the company was blending added flavours that mimic a product's natural profile.

 

United Spirits said it has filed the plea in relation to the sale of one of the products manufactured at the company's Baramati unit, according to an exchange filing. Based on legal advice, the company is of the view that the declarations on the product labels in question are in compliance with the current applicable legal and regulatory framework in India and are consistent with long-standing industry practice, it said.

 

The company said it was aware of certain media reports and the food regulator's press release in relation to the matter and will not comment further at this stage as the matter is sub-judice. The issue is also being taken up with the food regulator by industry associations like the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies and the International Spirits and Wines Association of India, it said.

 

Last month, the food regulator had issued notices to alcoholic beverage manufacturers for alleged violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, including the unauthorised use of added flavours and non-compliance with age-related claims. It had then not disclosed the name of the companies. Sunday, the food regulator said the notice was issued to the Baramati plant of United Spirits, which produces McDowell's No 1 rum.

 

Monday, shares of United Spirits ended at INR 1,530 apiece on the National Stock Exchange, up 0.9% from Friday.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Shubhayan Bhattacharya

 

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