Full responsibility for quality and safety rests with the business owner for the declared period
Lucknow, September 2026 : The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has further clarified the guidelines it recently issued regarding the shelf period and labelling of sweets and confectionery products. According to the department, no fixed or uniform shelf life is being made mandatory for sweet sellers. Food business operators will have to determine the use period of their product themselves, keeping in mind the nature of the product, the manufacturing process, the ingredients, and the storage arrangements, and they will have to give the consumer clear information about it.
The aim is to make available to the consumer information on the period up to which the food product concerned is safe for consumption and conforms to the prescribed quality.
Food business operators will decide the use period themselves
According to the food safety department, the nature, ingredients, manufacturing process, and storage conditions of different sweets vary. Therefore, it is not practical to fix a uniform shelf life for all sweets. This has been kept in mind in the guidelines.
Food business operators will be able to determine the use period of their product themselves, taking into account the actual nature of the product and the conditions related to its manufacture. The food safety department has trust in food business operators. Along with giving them the responsibility of deciding the use period of a product, they will also have to ensure accountability for its quality and food safety.
Responsibility for quality for as long as the declared period
The department has clarified that the "Use By" period declared by a food business operator will not be merely a formal notice; the operator's accountability will also be attached to it. If a business operator declares a use period of five days for a sweet, they will have to ensure that during the declared period the product remains in conformity with the prescribed quality and food safety standards. Thus, along with deciding the use period of a product, the food business operator will also have to take on the full responsibility of maintaining the product's quality and safety during that period.
Consumers have a right to know a Product's Freshness and Use Period
The department stresses that when buying sweets or any other food product, the consumer should receive clear information about until when that product is fit for use. A clear declaration of the "Use By" period will make it easier for the consumer to make decisions regarding the freshness and safety of the product. The Food Safety Department will also increase awareness among business operators and consumers in this regard, so that clarity is maintained regarding the declaration of the use period and adherence to it.
