Tukaram Mundhe FDA action: Maggi, Lay’s, Kurkure packets found in Mumbai with fake expiry date were meant for export | Today’s news
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration, headed by IAS officer Tukaram Mundh, on Tuesday stepped up its food safety efforts by raiding a warehouse in Mumbai allegedly involved in tampering with packaging details on branded food products meant for export.
The illegal operation, which was raided, wiped out the manufacturers’ original use-by dates using chemicals and altered nutritional information on products made by major companies such as PepsiCo and Nestlé, which included Lay’s potato chips, Kurkure and Maggi noodles, Reuters reported.
Investigators also found machines capable of making and applying replacement tags. During a six-day sweep last week, officials seized merchandise and other materials estimated to be worth nearly $80,000 (approximately ₹7,601,184).
The news agency found that at least one rebranded PepsiCo package contained information in both English and French. Her photographer Francis Mascarenhas noticed a can of chemical solvent in an unsanitary warehouse. Officials said it was used to remove data printed on the packaging.
Officials recovered nearly 5,000 cartons of consumer goods, including PepsiCo’s Lay’s and Kurkure chips, Nestlé’s Maggi Masala Noodles. Data was removed from several packets of Kurkure and Maggi and also Thums Up cans.
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According to officials, the operator would use a stylus on a computer screen to enter fictitious production and expiration dates. Employees then allegedly used a machine mounted on a metal table, which carried a small “I love my India” sticker, to print replacement labels for products and cans.
“Absolutely shocked at the scale”: Mundhe
Describing the findings from the warehouse probe, Mundhe told Reuters on Tuesday: “I’m absolutely shocked at the scale. It’s like organized activity. It’s done systematically.” He mentioned that it was not clear which countries the products were destined for, but confirmed that all the stock was destined for export.
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Authorities said most of the food found at the facility was past or nearing its expiration date. The police case document stated that by altering the data, “harmful food products are being exported for sale thereby deceiving customers”.
The facility was located in an industrial area in Navi Mumbai, roughly 25 km (16 mi) from the Mumbai International Airport. It was operated by privately owned Sadhana Enterprises. According to state government media statements and a police case document, the company’s owner told authorities the work was done for 19 relatively unknown exporters. The closing warehouse consisted of four large rooms covered with a tin roof.
“Companies must comply”
“The original production date and expiration date on the food packaging were scratched off, erased … (and) new information was printed on it,” the police document said. The police case did not allege wrongdoing by any of the global companies.
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However, Mundhe emphasized the need for greater accountability across supply chains.
“Everyone needs to take this seriously. Companies need to be compliant and ensure labelling, packaging and sales are compliant,” he said.
Meanwhile, PepsiCo, Nestlé did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Her calls to warehouse co-owners Jayprakash Sanchatiram Singh and Jaya Navrang Bahadur Singh went unanswered. It also remained unclear if anyone had been arrested in connection with the case.
