India’s food safety regulator has banned the sale of Diageo and Inbrew whisky and rum products

India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has prohibited the sale of select whisky and rum products manufactured at certain production sites in Madhya Pradesh by United Spirits – the Indian subsidiary of Diageo – and by Inbrew Beverages, a separate private Indian spirits company. The regulator confirmed the action on 3 August 2026 following laboratory testing commissioned by India’s Health Ministry, which found that affected products contained artificial or nature-identical flavouring substances used to reproduce the characteristic aroma and taste of the spirits rather than allowing those qualities to develop through natural raw materials and the maturation process.