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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 14: The Government has proposed to introduce the "best before" label in packed food to indicate the time after which specific qualities of the food deteriorate.
"Best before" signifies the date which marks the end of the period under any stated storage conditions during which the product will remain fully marketable and retain its claimed qualities.
"Best before" day differs from "use before" day which is the recommended last consumption date. The former implies that the product may be satisfactory for consumption even beyond the date while the latter means that the product will not retain its qualities beyond the date mentioned.
In a gazette notification dated November 15, the government has invited suggestions from the public within 30 days regarding its proposal to amend some of the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) rules, 1955, which were notified through an earlier notification last year, to include the "best before" the label.
The implementation date of the earlier notification dated July 9, 1998, which was to come into effect from July 9 this year, had been extended till January 1 next year keeping in view representations from the industry.
For infant food and milk substitutes, however, "use before" label will continue.
