Thousands of VAT 69 whisky, Smirnoff vodka PET bottles seized in food safety crackdown in Bengaluru
Inspectors found bottles had markings showing they were made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but should have carried a mandated ‘recycled’ symbol
Indian authorities have seized over 18,000 boxes of Diageo liquor bottles in Bengaluru, citing a lack of markings indicating the use of safe recycled plastic. Diageo India confirmed the action, stating that some of its bottles have been quarantined until further notice. The bottles, sourced from an approved recycler, underwent mandatory tests by the suppliers.
Diageo assured the safety of its products for consumption, and they are engaging with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for further direction on the matter. FSSAI officials visited Diageo's Bengaluru factory, where they discovered missing mandatory markings on the bottles. This lack of markings raised serious concerns about food safety, misleading labeling, and misbranding compliance, potentially compromising the safety of finished alcoholic beverages for consumers.
The FSSAI did not respond to queries regarding the seizure. The regulator is taking a tougher stance against liquor firms, energy drink makers, and food manufacturers over labeling and compliance issues. Smirnoff and VAT 69 blends were among the impacted products, with the FSSAI seizing products worth approximately $1.6 million and plastic material.
This seizure affects more than half a dozen brands, including DSP Black Deluxe Whisky. Diageo, India's rapidly growing consumer market, recorded $3 billion in revenue from the country in the fiscal year ending March 2026, making it one of the dominant foreign players alongside Pernod Ricard. The FSSAI's actions come after the regulator barred two of Diageo's popular whisky brands for misleading declarations about the maturity of the liquor and the use of artificial flavoring.
The flavoring crackdown has shaken India's $40 billion alcohol industry, which includes popular Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) products. The regulator has also warned Diageo that it falsely claimed one of its top-selling whiskies was matured in American oak casks, when most of the product had not undergone such maturation.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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