{
  "id": 14583867,
  "title": "No expiry dates on cherries for pregnant wife, man wins Rs 8,450 from e-commerce site",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/no-expiry-dates-on-cherries-for-pregnant-wife-man-wins-rs-8-450-from",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T01:30:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/expiry-dates-cherries-pregnant-wife-man-wins-e-commerce-site-10921671/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Thiruvananthapuram District Consumer Commission has ruled in favor of a man who purchased four packets of Karonda cherries from an e-commerce site for his pregnant wife, despite the absence of manufacturing and expiry dates on the packaging. The commission directed the e-commerce company and the seller to refund Rs 450 and pay Rs 8,000 in compensation and litigation costs to the consumer. The bench, comprising President P V Jayarajan and members Preetha G Nair and V R Viju, held that failing to disclose important product details, such as the date of manufacture and expiry date, constituted an unfair trade practice. The commission emphasized that this omission misrepresented the quality and safety of the goods, potentially putting the consumer's health at risk. The man had purchased the cherries in June 2021, unaware that the packets lacked the necessary information. Upon opening the package, he discovered that the products did not mention their manufacturing or expiry dates. He lodged a complaint with the e-commerce platform, who subsequently sent replacement packets on June 10, 2021, which also lacked the required details. The consumer destroyed the products and filed a legal notice against the e-commerce company on June 29, 2021, alleging deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice. The e-commerce company argued that it was merely an intermediary platform and not directly involved in the sale. However, the commission rejected this claim, noting that the seller's invoice carried the e-commerce company's emblem, rendering their assertion of no involvement in the transaction untenable. The commission found both parties liable for deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice, ruling that their actions had caused the consumer mental anguish and financial loss. The ruling serves as a reminder that online food products must carry essential labeling details, such as the date of manufacture and expiry date, to ensure consumer safety.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}