UP government moves to ensure quality in packaged foods
Lucknow, September 20: In order to ensure the quality of food items in Uttar Pradesh and provide accurate and transparent information to consumers, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has issued important instructions regarding packaged food products.
According to the order, it will now be mandatory to mention the actual manufacturing date on the packages of food products packed within the geographical boundaries of Uttar Pradesh. The packing date cannot be used in place of the manufacturing date.
This decision by the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, follows facts that came to light during recent special inspections of food manufacturing units. The inspections found that some manufacturers were storing food items for long periods after production. Later, when the same food is packaged in smaller packets, instead of the actual production date, the date of packaging is printed on the package.
Similarly, in some cases, relabelers and repackers are also only printing the packing date. In such a situation, consumers are not able to know when the food in question was actually manufactured or processed. This can lead to confusion regarding the product’s actual shelf life and quality.
The Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration has implemented this system keeping in mind the consumer interests, public health, and food safety provisions contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Its purpose is to ensure traceability, transparency, and quality of food products and to provide consumers with information about the actual manufacturing date of the product.
According to the directive, food businesses will now be required to clearly indicate the actual manufacturing date of the food product on the package. The practice of simply displaying a later packing date as the manufacturing date will not be accepted.
