Mumbai
oi-Swastika Sruti
Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has condemned the food label tampering racket that has been unearthed in Navi Mumbai, in which several packaged food items with allegedly tampered dates of manufacturing, expiry, and nutrient content have been seized.
Maharashtra FDA uncovered a Navi Mumbai food label tampering racket, seizing over 4,900 cartons of products from brands like PepsiCo and Nestle. Allegations include altered expiry dates and nutritional information, reportedly for export purposes, with companies themselves not accused.
Speaking about the incident, Commissioner Mundhe said it was far more grave than just a violation of food norms.
“When a label lies, the consumer pays the price,” he wrote on X.
His comments came after the Maharashtra FDA and police raided a warehouse in Navi Mumbai and seized thousands of cartons of packaged food products. Officials allegedly found chemicals and equipment being used to remove original information from food packaging and replace it with new details.
What Did The FDA Find In Navi Mumbai?
The incident was discovered in a warehouse belonging to Sadhana Enterprises located in the Turbhe industrial zone of Navi Mumbai.
In the inspections conducted between August 24 and 29, it is said that authorities confiscated 4,942 cartons of food items valued in excess of Rs 75 lakhs. These included products manufactured by renowned brands like PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Hindustan Unilever.
The products included:
- Lay’s and Kurkure
- Maggi Masala Noodles
- Knorr Mushroom Soup
- Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
- Thums Up
- Limca
According to officials, several products were expired or close to expiry.
It is important to note that there is no mention of PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola or Unilever in the allegations. This investigation is centered on the warehouse and the individuals accused of tampering with the packaging.
How Were The Expiry Dates Allegedly Changed?
Chemicals that could be used for scraping off the original manufacturing and expiry dates from the packages and cans were apparently discovered.
There was also printing machinery apparently found at the site. The authorities claimed that the replacement dates could thus be put on the packages.
Some of the packages had manufacturing dates that had not even arrived at the time of the crackdown.
According to Mundhe, some packages were apparently stamped with the manufacturing date of October 2, 2026, although the crackdown took place in August.
Nutrition Labels Were Also Allegedly Altered
The case goes beyond changing expiry dates.
Officials also reportedly found replacement nutrition labels on some products.
One Kurkure packet inspected during the investigation reportedly carried a bilingual English-French label. Information relating to ingredients, calories and serving size had allegedly been changed.
Authorities believe such changes may have been made to meet the labelling requirements of overseas markets. At least one replacement label seen by Reuters was printed in English and French.
This has raised concerns because nutrition information helps consumers understand what they are eating, particularly when it comes to ingredients, calories and serving sizes.
Does This Mean The Brands Were Selling Fake Products?
Not necessarily.
The products that were seized from the warehouse are believed to be legitimate products from reputable corporations. The accusation is that there is some kind of alteration made to the packaging information of the products after they have left the factory.
This is because the investigation has not accused PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola or Hindustan Unilever for involvement in the alleged business. It is rather an issue that pertains to export and re-packaging logistics of the products.
Why The Case Matters For Food Safety
The expiry date gives consumers an indication of the period during which the food item is supposed to be safe for consumption within certain storage conditions. Manipulation of such data might lead to the possibility of an older food item staying in circulation longer than originally thought possible.
In the same way, the manipulation of nutrition data will hinder the consumer’s knowledge of the content of the product.
This is why tampering of food labels is not just an economic crime but can also amount to a food safety problem.
