Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Uttar Pradesh Makes Use-by Dates Mandatory for Loose Sweets
Uttar Pradesh is introducing a new rule for loose sweets.
Starting October 15, shops must show a “Use-by Date” on trays and containers.
This helps shoppers know how long the sweets should be safe to eat.
Milk sweets usually spoil faster than dry sweets.
Fresh milk sweets should not smell sour or feel sticky.
Rules for selling eggs have also become stricter.
You can test an egg by placing it in cold water.
A fresh egg sinks and lies flat, while a floating egg should be thrown away.
From October 15, sweet shops and manufacturing units across Uttar Pradesh must display “Use-by Date” labels on trays and containers of loose sweets.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration issued the directive to help consumers judge the freshness of unpackaged confectionery.
Milk-based sweets generally last one to two days, while dry-fruit and flour-based sweets can remain usable longer.
Uttar Pradesh has also tightened date-labelling and traceability standards for eggs sold at retail points.
For an unmarked egg, the water test indicates freshness: fresh eggs sink flat, older edible eggs stand upright, and floating eggs should be discarded.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration, sweet shops, manufacturers, and egg retailers.
- What
- Mandatory use-by-date displays for loose sweets, along with tighter egg date-labelling and traceability standards.
- When
- The loose-sweets display rule begins October 15.
- Where
- Retail counters, sweet shops, and manufacturing units across Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- To help consumers assess freshness and curb the sale of stale confectionery and unverified perishable produce.
- Effective date
- October 15
- Location
- Uttar Pradesh
- Required label
- “Use-by Date” on containers and trays holding loose sweets
- Issuing authority
- Food Safety and Drug Administration
- Typical milk-sweet shelf life
- One to two days
- Egg freshness test
- Fresh eggs sink flat; floating eggs should be discarded
- Central packaged-food framework
- Packaged sweets carry mandatory expiry labels under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India norms