India busts warehouse relabelling expired snacks for export
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration said on September 1 it raided an illegal warehouse in Navi Mumbai that allegedly changed shelf-life and nutrition labels on expired or near-expiry food products for resale and export overseas. The goods were valued at about US$80,000 and involved products associated with major international brands including Nestle, Coca-Cola and Lay’s.
Key Points
- Maharashtra FDA announced on September 1 that it had broken up an illegal warehouse operation in an industrial area of Navi Mumbai.
- The warehouse was run by Sadhana Enterprises, whose person in charge allegedly said the company relabelled goods for 19 smaller exporters.
- Officers found nearly 5,000 boxes of products, including items linked to Nestle, Coca-Cola and Lay’s potato chips.
- Investigators said chemicals were used to erase original markings and expiry dates before new dates were printed with computers and inkjet equipment.
- Some packages were even marked with a future production date of October 2, 2026, while fake English-French nutrition labels allegedly understated grain content, calories and serving sizes for export compliance.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a reminder that food-safety risks can emerge deep inside export supply chains, not only at the retail end. Maharashtra FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the scale appeared organised and systematic, and urged multinational food companies to tighten supply-chain oversight.