THE STORY BEHIND 100% ADDITIVE FREE

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It appears that in the summer of 2025,  that under pressure from the Tequila Mega Brands, Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) caved in and no longer allows Tequila producers to use the phrase "additive free" when describing their Tequila.

Independent studies revealed that certain major premium Tequila producers were adulterating their bottled products with corn‑derived neutral spirits—ranging from 34% to 47%—along with artificial sweeteners and coloring agents. Despite these findings, the brands continued to market their premium tequilas as 100% additive‑free, misleading consumers and undermining consumer trust.

The Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) is Mexico’s official regulatory body for the spirit. Under Mexican law (the Norma Oficial Mexicana, or NOM), tequila producers can use up to 1% of certain additives—like sweeteners, colorants, or flavorings—without having to disclose it on the label. That means even bottles marked 100% agave may legally contain small amounts of additives.

In August 2024, Mexican authorities ruled that brands could not label their products as “additive‑free” at all. The CRT argued that:

• It is the sole certifier of tequila and the only body authorized to substantiate claims on labels.
• Independent groups like the Additive Free Alliance (AFA) were creating confusion by certifying brands without CRT oversight.
• Allowing “additive‑free” on labels could mislead consumers, since the NOM already permits undisclosed additives within the legal limit.

The dispute escalated when the CRT sued the AFA and its partners in 2025, seeking to stop them from certifying tequilas or using the term “additive‑free” in marketing. The CRT has also signaled plans to launch its own official additive‑free certification program, but industry critics say this move disadvantages small, transparent producers and limits consumer access to clear information.

Why we dislike Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) 

The CRT acts more like an organized crime organization, than a regulatory body. In early 2024, based on a complaint filed by the CRT,  Mexican federal authorities raided the home of Tequila Matchmaker founders.  

Officials claimed that the home was being used as an “adulterated  tequila factory”, hundreds of items were confiscated but no arrests were  made.

According to local news outlet Mural, the search  warrant was executed from a complaint filed by the Tequila Regulatory  Council (CRT) to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Jalisco.

In addition to the federal authorities, representatives of the CRT were present at the scene. Why would Federal authorities allow the CRT to be present at the raid?

Tequila Matchmaker, the highly recognized online tequila resource has been embroiled in an ongoing  transparency feud with the CRT over the company’s Additive-Free Alliance initiative which verifies and certifies additive agave brands  throughout Mexico.

The CRT denounced the initiative in January 2024, in a statement, a spokesperson for the organization said: “We  consider that any scheme offered in the market to ‘certify’, ‘verify’  or ‘confirm’ in any language that a certain trademark is ‘additives  free’ represents an act contrary to good customs and practices and  induces error or confusion to the Tequila consumer.”

Make sure to continue to our next section: Not All Tequila is Equal