Expiry date scam busted: Maggi, Lay’s and Kurkure stocks seized in Maharashtra
FDA officials found that the manufacturing and expiry/use-by dates printed on food packaging were allegedly being altered
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, has exposed a large-scale racket involving the manipulation of manufacturing and expiry dates on various packaged food products. This extensive operation, which took place from August 24 to 29, resulted in the seizure of goods valued at more than Rs 75 lakh. Among the confiscated items were popular brands such as Maggi and Lay's, indicating a widespread issue affecting consumer goods. The investigation revealed that original product labels, including crucial ingredient and nutritional information, were being replaced with new stickers to conceal the fact that products were being sold beyond their intended shelf life. A significant quantity of 8,442 cartons belonging to 10 exporter companies were seized, along with unlabelled and expired food items, bringing the total confiscated value to approximately Rs 75.52 lakh. The FDA has taken decisive action, including suspending the license of Sadhana Enterprises and initiating an FIR under relevant food safety and penal codes, highlighting the severity of these food safety violations.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, has exposed a large-scale racket involving the manipulation of manufacturing and expiry dates on various packaged food products. This extensive operation, which took place from August 24 to 29, resulted in the seizure of goods valued at more than Rs 75 lakh. Among the confiscated items were popular brands such as Maggi and Lay's, indicating a widespread issue affecting consumer goods. The investigation revealed that original product labels, including crucial ingredient and nutritional information, were being replaced with new stickers to conceal the fact that products were being sold beyond their intended shelf life. A significant quantity of 8,442 cartons belonging to 10 exporter companies were seized, along with unlabelled and expired food items, bringing the total confiscated value to approximately Rs 75.52 lakh. The FDA has taken decisive action, including suspending the license of Sadhana Enterprises and initiating an FIR under relevant food safety and penal codes, highlighting the severity of these food safety violations.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, has exposed a large-scale racket involving the manipulation of manufacturing and expiry dates on various packaged food products. This extensive operation, which took place from August 24 to 29, resulted in the seizure of goods valued at more than Rs 75 lakh. Among the confiscated items were popular brands such as Maggi and Lay's, indicating a widespread issue affecting consumer goods. The investigation revealed that original product labels, including crucial ingredient and nutritional information, were being replaced with new stickers to conceal the fact that products were being sold beyond their intended shelf life. A significant quantity of 8,442 cartons belonging to 10 exporter companies were seized, along with unlabelled and expired food items, bringing the total confiscated value to approximately Rs 75.52 lakh. The FDA has taken decisive action, including suspending the license of Sadhana Enterprises and initiating an FIR under relevant food safety and penal codes, highlighting the severity of these food safety violations.
In a major crackdown, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has busted a racket involving the tampering of manufacturing and expiry dates on packaged food products, seizing goods worth more than Rs 75 lakh, including products from brands such as Maggi and Lay’s.
The action was taken during a joint operation conducted by the FDA and the Mumbai Police Crime Branch between August 24 and 29.
During inspections, FDA officials found that the manufacturing and expiry/use-by dates printed on food packaging were allegedly being altered to facilitate the sale of products beyond their shelf life. Officials also found that original labels carrying ingredient lists and nutritional information had been removed and replaced with new stickers, while the products were repackaged for sale.
According to the FDA, 8,442 cartons linked to 10 exporter companies were seized, with a total value of Rs 75,21,269. Unlabelled stock and expired food products worth approximately Rs 30,600 were also seized, taking the overall value of the confiscated material to around Rs 75.52 lakh.
The seized products included potato chips such as Lay’s and Fun Flips, as well as Maggi Masala and Atta Noodles and several ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products.
Officials also found several Kurkure variants, including Masala Munch, Red Chilli Chataka, Naughty Tomato, Solid Masti, Green Chutney, Schezwan Chutney and Puffcorn Yummy Cheese.
During the operation, FDA officials seized inkjet printers, thinners and specially prepared stickers allegedly used to erase, conceal or replace the original manufacturing and expiry information on the packaging.
Following the inspection, the FDA suspended the licence of Sadhana Enterprises in the TTC Industrial Area in Turbhe. Samples were also collected from Unique Fragrances and Pristine Worldwide after officials found that the firms allegedly did not possess the required FSSAI licence and purchase bills.
The FDA said an FIR has been registered at Turbhe Police Station under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.