Old Monk to Revise Labels After Court Questions '7 Years Old Blended' Claim
The maker of Old Monk rum, Mohan Rocky Springwater, has agreed to modify its packaging after the Bombay High Court questioned the accuracy of the '7 years old blended' description on its bottles. The company will remove the claim and make the disclosure of added flavour more prominent, according to reports from CNBC TV18 and NewsBytes.
The case stems from an earlier action by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which stopped the sale of certain Old Monk variants in Maharashtra. The regulator had raised concerns about the use of added or artificial flavouring in neutral spirits and the age claim on the label.
During a hearing on Thursday, a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad questioned whether the '7 years old blended' wording could mislead consumers into believing the entire drink had been aged for seven years. "You are misleading the public... 7 years old means 7 years old!" Acting Chief Justice Ghuge said, as reported by Bar and Bench and cited in the coverage.
The court also examined the fine print on the bottle that disclosed the presence of added flavours. The judge remarked that the information was so small it was difficult to locate, saying he needed a magnifying glass to find it.
The company's counsel, senior advocate Navroz Seervai, defended the label, arguing that it complied with the rules for blended spirits and that the use of approved flavouring substances is permitted under FSSAI regulations. He also asserted that ingredients were disclosed on the packaging and that Old Monk was being singled out while other brands followed similar practices.
The Centre's lawyer, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, disputed this, arguing that rum must derive its characteristic taste and aroma naturally through the fermentation of sugarcane. He contended that selling it as pure rum could mislead consumers.
The court found merit in some of the company's arguments but also agreed with the regulator on certain issues. It directed Old Monk to submit a reworked label and asked the FSSAI to specify the requirements for clear product distinction. The excise department was instructed to examine the revised label and expedite the approval process. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 3.