Indian authorities have seized around 18,000 cases of Diageo products worth approximately US$1.6 million amid concerns over missing food-grade markings on recycled plastic bottles. The action follows a separate dispute in which India’s food safety regulator halted sales of several Diageo whisky brands over flavouring and labelling concerns.
That Indian government agencies are heavily scrutinising Diageo’s business is not in question following the seizure of some 18,000 cases of the group’s products worth about US$1.6 million.
Reuters reports that the products allegedly lack markings to show they were made from safe recycled plastic.
Diageo said some of its bottles “have been quarantined by authorities until further direction”. It said they were sourced from a recycler approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and that mandatory tests were conducted by the suppliers.
“Our products are completely safe for consumption … We are engaging with FSSAI for further direction on this matter,” United Spirits said.
Second regulatory dispute
The latest action comes after the FSSAI banned the sale of some popular Diageo whisky brands, alleging misleading declarations about the maturity of the spirits and the use of artificial flavouring.
The new dispute concerns not whether the bottles were made from safe recycled plastic, but whether the required markings confirming that they were food grade were present.
“This raised serious food safety, misleading and misbranding compliance concerns regarding the safety of finished alcoholic beverages for consumers,” the safety body said.
Smaller bottles affected
The bottles concerned are used for smaller 180ml formats rather than the traditional glass bottles in which most Diageo products are sold in India.
The brands concerned include DSP Black Deluxe Whisky, Smirnoff Zesty Lime Triple Distilled Flavoured Vodka and VAT 69 Scotch whisky.
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