Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Maharashtra FDA Flags Altered Food Labels As Public Trust Breach
Food packages are supposed to tell people what is inside and when it expires.
Officials in Maharashtra found a warehouse where some food labels were allegedly changed.
The changes reportedly included manufacturing dates, expiry dates, and nutrition information.
Nearly 5,000 cartons were found in the warehouse.
The products included snacks, noodles, soup, mayonnaise, and soft drinks.
Some labels may have shown incorrect ingredients or serving information.
Officials also found chemicals and machines that were allegedly used to change the labels.
The products were reportedly meant to be exported.
Tukaram Mundhe said misleading labels can harm consumers and break their trust.
Authorities raided a Navi Mumbai warehouse over allegedly altered expiry dates and nutrition labels.
Nearly 5,000 cartons of products from major brands were reportedly found at the site.
Officials found chemicals and machines allegedly used to erase and replace packaging information.
Some labels reportedly changed ingredients, calorie details, serving sizes, and country-of-origin information.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe called deliberate label manipulation a breach of public trust.
- Who
- Maharashtra FDA officials, led publicly by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, investigated the warehouse; products from PepsiCo, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Hindustan Unilever were reportedly involved.
- What
- Authorities reported discovering an alleged operation that altered manufacturing dates, expiry dates, and nutritional labels on food products.
- When
- The discovery was described as recent; officials reportedly found some packs marked with a future manufacturing date of October 2, 2026.
- Where
- A warehouse in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- The stock was reportedly intended for export, although the specific destination countries and the reason for altering the labels were not immediately clear.
- Location
- Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Reported stock
- Nearly 5,000 cartons of consumer products
- Alleged changes
- Manufacturing dates, expiry dates, nutritional information, ingredients, calorie details, serving sizes, and country-of-origin labels
- Products mentioned
- Lay's, Kurkure, Maggi Masala Noodles, Knorr Mushroom Soup, Hellmann's Mayonnaise, Thums Up, and Limca
- Evidence reported
- Chemicals allegedly used to erase dates and machines allegedly used to print replacement information
- Export status
- Tukaram Mundhe said all stock at the warehouse was meant for export
- Future date found
- Some packs reportedly carried October 2, 2026, as a manufacturing date