The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has uncovered an alleged food relabelling operation at a warehouse in Navi Mumbai, raising concerns about the handling and distribution of expired and near expiry packaged food products. Authorities said the operation involved changing expiry dates and nutritional information on branded products before they were prepared for export.
The action was carried out by the Maharashtra FDA in coordination with the Navi Mumbai Police. Officials reportedly found a large quantity of packaged food and beverages at the facility, along with chemicals and machinery that were allegedly being used to remove original information from product packaging and replace it with new labels.
According to reports, the seized stock was valued at approximately Rs 75 lakh. Products associated with several well-known international and Indian-market brands were reportedly among the seized material. These included Lay’s, Kurkure, Maggi, Knorr, Hellmann’s, Thums Up and Limca. The presence of such products does not indicate wrongdoing by the manufacturers or brand owners. The authorities are investigating how the products reached the warehouse and who was responsible for the alleged relabelling activity.
Officials said the operation was discovered at a facility associated with Sadhana Enterprises in Navi Mumbai. During the inspection, investigators reportedly found equipment capable of printing replacement labels as well as chemicals that could be used to erase or alter existing expiry information.
The alleged practice is a serious food safety concern because expiry dates provide consumers with essential information about the period during which a packaged food product is expected to remain suitable for consumption under specified storage conditions. Changing such information can prevent consumers and distributors from accurately determining whether a product is still within its declared shelf life.
The investigation is also examining whether the products were intended for export markets. Reuters reported that some replacement labels were found in multiple languages, indicating that the goods may have been prepared for overseas markets. Authorities are continuing to investigate the network of exporters and other parties allegedly connected with the operation.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe reacted strongly to the findings and described the scale of the alleged operation as concerning. The FDA has been carrying out a wider enforcement campaign covering food manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other businesses involved in the food supply chain.
The Navi Mumbai case has also brought attention to the importance of checking product information before purchasing packaged food. Consumers are generally advised to examine manufacturing and expiry or best-before information, packaging condition, storage instructions and other mandatory declarations before consuming a product.
The issue is particularly relevant to online and quick-commerce purchases, where consumers may receive packaged products without spending much time examining the physical packaging before accepting delivery. Mundhe has urged consumers to report cases where required expiry information is missing or appears suspicious on quick-commerce platforms.
The FDA's warning is relevant because digital food delivery has become an important part of the retail market. Products are increasingly ordered through mobile applications and delivered from warehouses or dark stores. This makes proper inventory management and compliance with food safety regulations important at every stage of the supply chain.
The authorities' action also highlights the distinction between a product being expired and a product being deliberately relabelled. An expired product may remain in a warehouse because of poor inventory control or inadequate disposal procedures. Deliberately altering expiry information, if established by investigation, would raise a more serious issue because it could mislead distributors, exporters and consumers about the product's actual shelf life.
The Maharashtra FDA and police are now investigating the source of the products, the companies involved in their movement and the intended destination of the goods. Reports indicate that action has been initiated against individuals and entities allegedly connected with the warehouse operation. The investigation will determine the extent of the network and whether the products entered domestic or international supply channels.
The seizure has also prompted broader questions about supply-chain monitoring. Food safety does not depend only on the manufacturing process. Transportation, storage, packaging, distribution and retail handling all play important roles in ensuring that products reaching consumers meet regulatory requirements.
For consumers, the incident serves as a reminder to inspect packaged food carefully. If an expiry date appears scratched, overwritten, covered by another label or otherwise difficult to read, consumers should avoid consuming the product and report the issue to the appropriate food safety authorities or the seller.
At the same time, consumers should avoid assuming that every product from a particular brand is unsafe because of an investigation involving individual distributors or warehouses. The current Navi Mumbai case concerns an alleged relabelling operation, and the investigation is intended to establish responsibility and determine how the products were handled.
The Maharashtra FDA has also continued inspections at other food businesses across the state. The department's official mandate includes enforcement of food safety standards and protection of consumers from unsafe or misleading food products.
The Navi Mumbai operation therefore represents more than a seizure of expired or allegedly relabelled products. It highlights the importance of accurate product information and accountability throughout the food supply chain. As the investigation progresses, authorities will need to establish who supplied the products, who allegedly altered the labels, whether the goods were exported or entered the domestic market and whether any consumers were exposed to products with falsified information.
For now, the FDA's advice remains relevant to consumers: check expiry and other mandatory product details before purchasing or consuming packaged food, particularly when products are delivered through online and quick-commerce services.