Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Uttar Pradesh Cracks Down on Misleading Food Manufacture Dates
Uttar Pradesh is telling food companies to use the correct date on packages.
The date should show when the food was made or processed.
It should not show only when the food was put into a packet.
Inspectors found that some food was stored for a long time before being packed.
This happened in some cases involving relabellers and repackers.
The state says this practice can make the food seem newer than it is.
A food’s shelf life starts when it is made or processed.
It does not start again when the food is packed into a smaller packet.
Companies packing food in Uttar Pradesh must now follow this direction.
Uttar Pradesh’s FSDA directed food businesses to show the actual manufacture date on packaged products.
The rule applies to food products packed in Uttar Pradesh.
Inspections found products manufactured and stored for long periods before being packed into smaller packets.
Some relabellers and repackers were displaying only the packing date as the manufacture date.
Officials said a product’s shelf life begins at manufacture or processing, not later packing.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and food businesses, including relabellers and repackers.
- What
- The department directed businesses to display the actual manufacture date rather than the later packing date.
- When
- The directive followed special inspections of food manufacturing units.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Officials said food shelf life begins at manufacture or processing, not when the product is subsequently packed.
- Issuing department
- Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Uttar Pradesh
- Affected products
- Packaged food products packed in Uttar Pradesh
- Required date
- The actual date of manufacture
- Prohibited practice
- Showing the packing date as the date of manufacture
- Inspection finding
- Some products were manufactured and stored for long periods before being packed into smaller packets
- Shelf-life basis
- The date of manufacture or processing