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The video exploded, hitting 7.4 million views, and also sparked a discussion about food safety in the country.
“Why are you not questioning?” one user shot back at Mukesh. “Don’t buy any food products from D-Mart,” one user said. So, before you buy, flip the pack and read the label,” the body said.
others thought this was an open secret While some netizens thought they saw a safety breach. The video, however, has raised questions that go beyond the food safety practices of one supermarket. What exactly are customers buying when they purchase loose goods? Don’t consumers have a right to know what they are spending their money on? Another thought this was no secret: “They do this every time and people believe them and ignore small grocery shops. A third wondered if this could be why many supermarkets discourage filming inside. “That is why they are not allowing us to take photos. The outcry was swift enough that some users swore off D-Mart entirely, posting calls to boycott the chain. However, the conversation didn’t end there. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently urged consumers to ‘flip the pack and read the label’ in its new campaign. “The packaging may catch your eye, but the label tells you what really matters. From ingredients, nutritional information to allergens, expiry dates & license number, every detail helps you make a more informed choice.
Debate Over Food Expiry Dates Intensifies
Recent discussions among netizens have sparked a debate regarding the validity of food expiry dates, particularly for products like flour. Some users argue that these dates are merely corporate tactics, stating that food can remain safe to consume long after the indicated date. One commenter expressed a ‘controversial opinion,’ asserting, “Expiry dates are just nonsense. Food doesn’t follow those expiry dates. It can remain good even after the expiry date for a long time. Especially flour and grains. Sometimes they can spoil even before the expiry date. It is all about the moisture and how it was packaged and handled.”
Another participant noted that a use-by date for flour does not necessarily indicate that it is unsafe to consume afterwards. They clarified, “It’s a use-by date; these are given because of the packaging. But atta itself is safe and you can still use it if stored properly in a dry area and not in plastic packaging.”
Many users concurred that flour’s longevity is influenced more by moisture and storage conditions than by a calendar date. A further point raised in the discussion highlighted the distinction between ‘use by’ and ‘expiry’ dates, which, while often used interchangeably, have different meanings in food safety terminology.