While the packaged foods are easy-to-use, the addition of preservatives and chemicals often reduces their shelf life; therefore, consuming them before the expiry date is important. According to the latest report, Rajasthan's Food Safety Department recently destroyed around 1.5 lakh kilograms of expired Amul‑branded packaged foods in Jaipur.
It is reported that the crackdown began after a complaint was filed on the state government's 181 public grievance helpline, prompting officials from the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Jaipur-II, to inspect a warehouse in Jaipur's Kho Nagoriyan area.
During the raid, the officers found thousands of cartons of non‑dairy Amul‑branded products - including noodles, ketchup, mayonnaise and energy drinks - produced by the Kaira District Co‑operative Milk Producers' Union in Gujarat and supplied via Advansys India Pvt. Ltd.
According to The Indian Express report, about 12,000 cartons were already past expiry, while in around 3,000 cartons, the expiry dates had allegedly been chemically erased. It has also been reported that the officers recovered thinner, acetone and related chemicals, believed to have been used to remove original dates.
Officials said the warehouse was run by M/s Athlete Distributor, operated by Gagan Ahuja, whose food licence had expired. According to the Economic Times, authorities suspect the operator intended to print fresh expiry dates and repackage the items into nearly 4,500 new Amul‑labelled cartons for sale in the market.
It has been reported that the quantity was so large that disposal required four full days and a of expired goods to be transported to a landfill and destroyed at the company's expense.
According to officials, the accused claimed that he learnt how to alter expiry dates through YouTube videos, and regularly bought near‑expiry goods at discounted rates to rework and resell them.
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