United Spirits drops legal fight after FSSAI lifts rum ban
United Spirits just dropped its legal fight with India's food safety regulator after a ban on some of its rum products was lifted.
The FSSAI had blocked items from the Baramati plant on 29 June 2026, but changed course on August 18 when Diageo, parent company of United Spirits, and other liquor makers agreed to comply with FSSAI directives to either remove the "rum flavor" or relabel their drinks: no actual recipe changes needed.
FSSAI warns against artificial rum flavors
FSSAI was worried about artificial flavors messing with what makes rum, well, rum: its taste and aroma.
This goes against rules set in 2018 for alcoholic drinks to keep their original character.
While United Spirits played ball and got back on shelves, Old Monk's makers are still fighting a similar ban, saying they're losing almost ₹1 crore every day because their sales have stopped.