FSSAI ‘voluntary’ rule prompts Pune sweet shops to stop displaying expiry dates on items, poses health risks
This shift comes after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India made date labelling voluntary for loose sweets in November 2023, reversing a 2020 mandate that required such information.
The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, introduced the provision of the ‘best-before date’.
(Express Photo) Many sweet shops in Pune have stopped displaying information such as manufacturing date, best-before date, and even price tags on their mithai, leaving consumers unable to judge the freshness and quality of the product. This shift comes after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) made date labelling voluntary for loose sweets in November 2023, reversing a 2020 mandate that required such information.
“Except for a few, in the majority of the sweet shops, the ‘best-before date’ information is not mentioned.” said Rohan Jadhav, a resident of Dange Chowk.(Express Photo)
The lack of transparency has raised health concerns, especially after Pune’s iconic Good Luck Cafe’s licence was suspended temporarily last Sunday over hygiene issues following the detection of a glass piece in a bun maska.
“Sweets, especially milk-based ones, have a limited shelf life and are prone to microbial growth. Consuming expired or stale sweets can lead to food poisoning, headaches, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, and other digestive issues,” says Dr Neha Patil, a medical practitioner residing at Akurdi.
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