Karnataka High Court flags growing expired food menace, calls for constant vigil

The High Court of Karnataka has expressed concern over the increasing instances of hotels and eateries stocking and supplying expired food. In a recent ruling, Justice M. Nagaprasanna stated that such practices reveal a "disturbing malaise" in the hospitality industry, where the profit motive has taken precedence over the fundamental duty to protect consumers' health.

The court's observations come in the wake of recent enforcement actions that have uncovered alleged rackets involving expired food products. Authorities have discovered methods to push expired items back into the commerce stream, highlighting the need for constant vigilance in food safety measures.

The court emphasized that surprise inspections should no longer be occasional exercises, but rather a constant part of regulatory efforts. It stressed the importance of rigorous traceability of expired stock, prompt destruction of unfit-for-consumption items, and the imposition of sufficiently stringent consequences to deter businesses from treating consumer health as expendable.

The court highlighted the implicit trust customers place in establishments, assuming that the food served is wholesome, hygienic, and fit for human consumption. It stated that customers cannot be expected to personally inspect every food product for its expiry date or examine its origins before consumption. The customer's trust forms the foundation of the food industry.

In refusing to quash a criminal case against an expired food recycling firm, the court underscored the severity of the issue and the need for immediate action from the regulatory machinery to safeguard public health.