Made months ago, packed later: Uttar Pradesh cracks down on food labels showing wrong date

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has issued new rules requiring packaged food products to display the true date of manufacture, rather than the date they were repacked. This directive follows a series of inspections that revealed food manufacturers were storing products for lengthy periods before putting them into smaller containers, and sometimes labeling the repacked date as the original manufacturing date.

Officials emphasized that a food product's shelf life effectively begins on the date of manufacture or processing, not the date it is subsequently packed. By showing the original manufacturing date instead of the packaging date, consumers will have a more accurate understanding of how fresh the product is. The department noted that this practice is particularly important when the repacked product is used as an ingredient in other foods, as it could be difficult to determine if the product has remained within its proper period of use if only the repacking date is shown.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will enforce the new labeling standards during inspections and take action against businesses that fail to comply. The department's decision aligns with provisions in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, aimed at enhancing food safety, protecting consumer interests, and maintaining public health.

This measure is expected to improve traceability and transparency throughout the food supply chain, as well as minimize the risk of older or compromised products entering the market under a later repacking date.