Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi has spoken out against food and beverage adulteration, saying those who deliberately put consumers’ lives at risk for profit should face stringent punishment.
In a video shared on social media, Bedi questioned the safety of consumable products in India and said adulteration should not be treated as a minor regulatory offence.
His comments came days after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ordered a ban on the sale of select whisky and rum products made by major alcohol manufacturers over violations linked to flavouring practices and product labelling.
Rakesh Bedi Questions Alcohol Safety
In the video, Bedi began by joking about his usual “Hi Chai” greeting before switching to “Hi Cheers”. He then said there was little reason to “cheers” after what he described as concerns surrounding alcoholic beverages made in India.
Bedi referred to FSSAI’s recent findings on certain whisky and rum products and questioned how such practices could have continued for years without being detected earlier.
He also questioned whether officials from the food safety regulator had never consumed these products themselves and therefore failed to notice anything unusual.
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At the same time, he acknowledged the recent action by the regulator, saying, “better late than never,” while urging authorities not to stop at the latest action.
Bedi said there are many products in India that could be adulterated and argued that stronger action is needed against people who knowingly compromise the safety of food and beverages.
The strongest part of his video was his demand for criminal action against people who adulterate consumable products. He said those who adulterate food should face a murder charge or, at the very least, an attempt to murder case because they are putting many people at risk for a small profit. He added that the same approach should apply to adulteration involving food, drinks and alcohol.
Why Whisky And Rum Came Under FSSAI Scrutiny
Bedi’s comments came shortly after FSSAI took action against select whisky and rum products. According to the regulator, samples from multiple manufacturers were tested in laboratories. The tests found artificial or nature-identical flavours in some products.
The issue was not simply about whether a product had a particular taste. FSSAI said the characteristic flavour and aroma of products such as whisky and rum should naturally come from the ingredients and manufacturing process.
That includes factors such as raw materials, fermentation, yeast activity, distillation and maturation. The regulator found that some manufacturers were allegedly adding external flavouring substances to recreate the taste and aroma associated with rum and whisky.
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What Is The Labelling Issue?
If a product is created using external flavouring to imitate the characteristics of rum or whisky, FSSAI said it should be labelled according to its true nature. For example, it could be described as a “rum-flavoured spirit” or “whisky-flavoured spirit”.
FSSAI said the products identified through laboratory testing were “sub-standard” under the applicable regulations.
The regulator also pointed to the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, which require rum and whisky to have the characteristic taste and aroma associated with those products.
After drawing massive attention for his portrayal of Shakeel in the blockbuster film Dhurandhar, Rakesh Bedi is now putting the spotlight on an issue that directly affects everyday consumers: knowing exactly what is in the food and beverages they buy, and whether the products being sold to them meet the standards claimed on their labels.
