Editorial : Expiry Date

Creation, Sustenance, and Dissolution apply to everything. Whatever is born or created is destined to come to an end. No matter what the thing, this rule does not change. The only difference is in the duration of its existence. Some things are created and perish instantly, while others last for thousands of years before being destroyed. This also applies in the context of Eras. After the Satyayug, Tretayug begins and it too ends. Then comes Dwaparayug, which also ends, followed by Kaliyug; and after it ends, Satyayug begins all over again.

The Public Alertness required to avoid such Malpractices

The occasion to mention this is that some weeks ago in Jaipur (Rajasthan), nearly one and a half lakh Kilograms of food products of the famous Indian brand Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited), whose expiry date had passed, were seized and destroyed. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) Department took action and destroyed this large stock. It took 4 days to destroy such a huge quantity. The total stock filled 27 trucks. The expiry dates on the packets of these food items had been erased. In this way, the health of the people was being endangered. Now that this stock came to light, action was taken; however, across the country, there may be many such food items related to public health that continue to be sold even after their expiry date, and people may be consuming them.

Earlier, sweets sold from shops did not carry such expiry dates, but now they have been fixed. Due to the decline of morality in society, when people can even commit murder for money, such acts may be considered trivial by some.

Greed of Companies

When a manufacturing company prints the production and expiry date on a product, it means that till that specified date, its ingredients are safe, effective, and fit for consumption.

In the case of food, after this date, microbial growth may occur or chemical changes may render it toxic. In the case of medicines, after expiry, their potency reduces or they may transform into harmful chemicals. Many people believe that products can still be used for some days after the expiry date. Technically, there may be some flexibility in the case of dry items; however, this thinking is very dangerous with regards to processed food. The expiry date is the final boundary of safety; crossing it is like playing with one’s health.

It is also said that some companies deliberately set the expiry date earlier than the actual unusable state of the product by a few months or days. Because of this, people assume it is still usable and continue to consume it. Thus, companies serve their financial interests, while people act on their own judgment to save money.

Alcohol is inherently harmful for the body, yet it is consumed; moreover, even alcohol is adulterated to make it toxic, often leading to the death of many. This reflects how deplorable the situation is.

The black market of profiteering

The incident involving a famous brand like Amul is just the tip of the iceberg. Attempting to repackage or alter the dates of one and a half lakh kilograms of expired butter and other dairy products for resale is not merely deception, it is a criminal act.

Often, instead of discarding stock lying in warehouses, chemicals are used to remove foul odour, new stickers are applied, and the goods are sent back into the retail market. The direct consequences include food poisoning, liver diseases, and in the long term, illnesses such as cancer.

In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) monitors such matters. The rules on paper are very strict. Under Food Safety laws, selling adulterated or expired food can lead to life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh. However, the actual enforcement is not very satisfactory. According to annual reports, thousands of samples are tested, of which 25% to 30% are found substandard; yet, the percentage of offenders being punished is extremely low. In most cases, offenders escape by paying fines. Even in the Amul case, large stocks have been seized; however, unless the main culprits are severely punished, this black marketing will not stop. Merely enacting laws will not solve the problem. It clearly shows a complete decline in business ethics among producers and distributors.

Consumers, too, must become vigilant instead of blindly trusting brands. While purchasing any product, certain things must be checked. Verifying the manufacturing and expiry dates is essential.

If the date appears erased or tampered with, do not purchase the product. Be especially cautious with heavily discounted goods, as often such products are close to the expiry date.

The need to purify the system

Tampering with expiry dates is equivalent to playing with human life. When such incidents occur involving famous companies, public trust is shaken. The Government must go beyond merely collecting samples, and ensure swift justice through fast-track courts, imposing strict punishment for offenders.

Until big examples of punishment are set before society and strict enforcement increases, profiteers will continue to play with people’s lives. Cases of culpable homicide should be registered against such offenders, and efforts should be made to ensure that harshest punishment, including the death penalty, is awarded. Adulterators must also be included in this, because food should be the basis of life, not a cause of death.

Editorial Perspectives

• It is unlikely that the owners or senior officials of the Amul establishment were unaware that such a large quantity of unfit food was about to be sold to the public. Therefore, the government should take the strictest legal action against those responsible.

• The question arises: if such incidents occur, people may begin to suspect that similar practices are common across many companies. In that case, who should be held accountable — the companies, the system, or someone else?

Merely enacting laws will not solve the problem. It clearly shows a decline in business ethics among producers & distributors !