Navi Mumbai Raid Uncovers Racket Altering Expiry Dates on Packaged Foods

A joint operation by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch has uncovered a large-scale racket involving the alteration of manufacturing and expiry dates on packaged food products. The raid, conducted between August 24 and 29 at Sadhana Enterprises in the Turbhe TTC Industrial Area, followed a tip-off received by the police's central crime branch.

Authorities seized a vast quantity of stock bearing the labels of well-known Indian brands, including Lay's, Kurkure, Maggi, Knorr, Rasoi, Hellmann's, Thums Up, and Limca. The seized items included various flavors of Lay's chips, multiple Kurkure variants, Maggi noodles, Knorr soup, and other packaged goods.

Investigators found that the original manufacturing and expiry dates on the packaging were being removed or overwritten. They recovered inkjet printers, thinners, and specially prepared stickers allegedly used to erase or cover the original information. Labels detailing ingredients and nutritional content were also being replaced with new ones.

The FDA reported that 8,442 cartons linked to 10 exporter companies, with a declared value of Rs 75,21,269, were seized. Additionally, unlabeled stock and expired food products valued at approximately Rs 30,600 were recovered from the premises. The total value of the seized material is estimated at around Rs 75 lakh.

During the operation, the warehouse was secured with police cordons. Authorities have indicated that export-import companies from Delhi and Noida are also believed to be involved in the racket.