India seizes thousands of whisky bottles over food safety concerns

Tuesday, 11 August 2026 at 12:30

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Indian food authorities have set aside thousands of bottles of Diageo spirits following a check on food safety and labeling. It concerns roughly 18,000 cases including whisky and vodka. According to government documents, the bottles were missing mandatory markings to show that the recycled plastic used is certified as food-safe.

That’s according to news agency Reuters. Inspectors from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) visited a United Spirits production site in Bengaluru. During the inspection, they found that certain small-format packs used recycled plastic bottles. Those bottles carried a conspicuous marking that led officials to hold everything back at once.

PET leads to thousands of whisky bottles barred from entering India

The bottles were labeled PET—polyethylene terephthalate—but were missing an additional symbol. Specifically, the required icon indicating recycled PET approved for food contact. Without that mark, Indian authorities raised concerns about food safety, proper labeling, and potential consumer deception. A large volume of products was therefore placed in quarantine.

The measure affects more than six beverage brands, including DSP Black Deluxe Whisky, Smirnoff Zesty Lime Triple Distilled Flavoured Vodka, and VAT 69 Blended Scotch Whisky.

The inspection focused mainly on smaller plastic bottles. Fortunately, it does not apply to Diageo’s larger whisky bottles, which are typically glass. Even so, the shipment blocked from entering India was worth around 1.6 million dollars.

Diageo says the quarantined bottles are safe for consumers. The company emphasizes that the bottles come from an FSSAI-approved recycler and that the necessary safety tests have been conducted.

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Indian regulator ramps up pressure on alcohol producers

The seizure isn’t an isolated case. India’s food authority has tightened oversight of alcohol, energy drink, and food manufacturers on labeling and regulatory compliance. Just days ago, action was also taken against other whisky brands, which were not named. In those cases, information about maturation and color additives was reportedly incorrect.

The situation is a major headache for Diageo and inconvenient for other companies as well. India is one of the world’s largest whisky markets. A sudden tightening of controls can ripple through trade. On the flip side, importing has become cheaper.