In a shocking revelation highlighting how some traders risk public health for profit, officials of the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety Department have seized 10,000 kilograms of dates that had use-by dates of 2022 and 2023. The stock, which should have been destroyed long ago, was stored in a godown in Kanpur. Officials suspect it was meant to be pushed back into the supply chain during the surge in demand around Ramzan and Holi.
Acting on a tip-off, food safety officials raided a godown belonging to Rajnish Traders in Kanpur. When they lifted the shutter, they found a massive stockpile of date packets. The total quantity was 100 quintals — equivalent to 10,000 kilograms — with an estimated market value of around Rs 50 lakh.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the use-by dates on the seized stock were from 2022-23. Instead of being disposed of, the dates had been stored with a plan that could have serious consequences for consumers’ health.
Officials said traders were allegedly changing labels on the packets to conceal the original expiry dates. Unsuspecting customers would have had no idea they were buying nearly three-year-old stock. With demand for dates rising during Ramzan and Holi, the expired products were reportedly set to be quietly reintroduced into the market.
The Food Safety Department has collected nine samples from the godown and sent them for laboratory testing. Officials termed it a serious case of endangering public health and said strict action will be taken under relevant legal provisions once the test reports are received. (Agency)
