After Products Found Stored For Packing/Labelling At Later Date
The department said consumers should be able to determine when a food product was actually manufactured so that they can make informed decisions about its freshness and remaining shelf life.
The department said the requirement would apply to food products packed within UP and cover manufacturers, repackers and relabellers. Food safety officials said shelf-life of a product begins from the date it is actually manufactured or processed. Lucknow: In a move aimed at improving consumer transparency and food-safety, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department directed food businesses to clearly declare the actual date of manufacture or processing on packaged food products. Its quality may decline over time depending on the nature of the product and storage conditions. The issue becomes particularly important when older food products are subsequently used as ingredients in other food items. Without accurate manufacturing information, products that are close to the end of their permitted shelf life could potentially enter the food chain without adequate traceability. The directive, issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration department commissioner, is aimed at strengthening traceability, transparency and food-safety controls.
The directive follows special inspections of food manufacturing units, during which officials found instances of food products being stored for extended periods after production before being repacked into smaller quantities. Such practices can make it difficult for consumers to determine the actual age of a product and its remaining shelf life.