Maharashtra FDA cracks down on fake expiry date scam, seizes ₹75 lakh stock

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has dismantled an alleged fraud involving the tampering of expiry dates and manufacturing dates on packaged food items sold across retail outlets in the state. The enforcement action resulted in the confiscation of products worth ₹75 lakh, marking a significant crackdown on food safety violations.

Among the seized items were well-known brands including Lay's chips, Kurkure snacks, and Maggi noodles. The racket appeared to involve relabeling expired products with future dates to extend their shelf life fraudulently, allowing substandard goods to remain on shelves and reach consumers.

The bust highlights persistent challenges in India's food safety ecosystem, where unscrupulous traders attempt to circumvent quality control measures to maximize profits. Altering expiry dates poses serious health risks to consumers and undermines regulatory oversight.

The FDA has intensified inspections of retail outlets and wholesale distributors in recent months as part of its broader mandate to ensure food safety standards. Authorities have urged consumers to verify manufacturing and expiry dates before purchase and report suspected violations to local food safety departments.