India Seizes 18,000 Boxes of Diageo Liquor Bottles Over Recycled Plastic Markings

NEW DELHI, Aug. 10: Indian inspectors have seized around 18,000 boxes of liquor bottles made by Diageo India after allegedly finding that they lacked markings showing they were made using safe recycled plastic, government sources said.

The action is the latest regulatory setback for Diageo, one of the world's largest spirits companies.

Diageo India confirmed the regulatory action, saying some of its bottles had been quarantined by authorities pending further directions.

The company said the bottles were sourced from a recycler approved by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) and that mandatory tests had been conducted by suppliers.

"Our products are completely safe for consumption," Diageo India's United Spirits said in a statement to Reuters, adding that it was engaging with FSSAI for further guidance.

FSSAI officials visited the United Spirits factory in Bengaluru last week, where they were told that the Diageo India unit was using recycled plastic bottles, according to a government memo.

Inspectors found that the required markings were missing, the memo said.

"This raised serious food safety, misleading and misbranding compliance concerns regarding the safety of finished alcoholic beverages for consumers," the memo said.

The seizure was made in the interest of public health, according to the document.

Diageo India said it would continue working with the authorities to address the matter and comply with regulatory requirements.