Matter came to light during special inspection by the food safety department
Ban on the practice of marking the packing date as the date of manufacturing
Consumers will now get correct information about the actual age and shelf life of the food product
Will help reduce the possibility of use of old or inferior quality products in the food chain
Lucknow, September 2026 : With the objective of ensuring the quality of food items and providing consumers with correct and transparent information, the food safety and drug administration department has issued important directions regarding packaged food products. The department has now made it mandatory for food products packed within the geographical boundaries of Uttar Pradesh to have the actual date of manufacturing marked on the packaging. The date of packing cannot be marked in place of the date of manufacture.
This decision, taken by the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, has been taken after facts came to light during recent special inspections of food manufacturing units. During the inspections, it was found that after producing a food item, some manufacturers were storing it for a long period. Later, when the same food item is packed into smaller packets, instead of marking the actual date of production on the package, the date on which it is packed is marked instead.
Similarly, in some cases, relabelers and repackers were also marking only the packing date. In such a situation, the consumer is unable to get information about when the food item concerned was actually manufactured or processed. This can create confusion for the consumer regarding the actual storage period of the product and its quality.
The shelf life of a food item begins from the date of manufacture itself
A food item has a fixed period of use also known as shelf life. This period begins from the date of the actual manufacturing or processing of the food item. With the passage of time, the quality of the food item may decline. In such a situation, if an old product is packed into small packets several months later and the packing date of that day is displayed as the primary date, the consumer may get the impression that the product is relatively fresh.
The situation can become particularly serious when such food products are later used as an ingredient in another food item. If the actual date of manufacturing is not clear, there remains a possibility of the use of such products in the food chain whose prescribed period of use is close to expiry or has already expired.
Decision taken keeping consumer interest and public health in mind
The Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, has implemented this system keeping in mind the provisions related to consumer interest, public health, and food safety contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Its objective is to ensure the traceability, transparency, and quality of food products, and to provide consumers with information about the actual manufacture of the product.
As per the directive, food businesses will now have to clearly mark the actual date of manufacturing of the food item on the package. The practice of displaying only the later packing date as the date of manufacture will not be accepted.
To ensure compliance with this system, the food safety department will also check the dates marked on packaging and labels during inspection and enforcement action. This step will enable consumers to get correct information about the actual age and shelf life of the food product, and will help reduce the possibility of use of old or quality-affected products in the food chain.
