PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The rule making it compulsory to display manufacturing and expiry or best before dates on trays of loose sweets and bakery products comes into effect in Uttarakhand on Monday. While several large sweet shops in Dehradun have started following the requirement, many smaller shops remain unaware of the new rule, raising concerns about its implementation and consumer safety.
A sweet shop owner in the Dalanwala area said that he was unaware of any such requirement. “I do not know about any such law. Food safety officials do not even visit our shop for inspections,” he said.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced the requirement to help customers check the freshness of sweets, particularly during the festive and wedding seasons. Under the order issued by food safety commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, shopkeepers must clearly display the manufacturing date and the expiry or use by date on trays and containers holding loose sweets.
Pandey said that the move aims to improve transparency and prevent the sale of stale sweets. The food safety department is expected to inspect shops to ensure they comply with the new requirement.
However, awareness of the new rule appears limited among some local sweet shop owners. While several large establishments in the city have already started displaying the dates, smaller shops have yet to take similar steps.
Sweet shop owner in Raipur also said he was unaware of the new rule and did not know what information needed to be displayed on sweet trays. “I have never done this before and did not know about the requirement. If it is compulsory, I will definitely follow it,” he said.
Apart from displaying dates, food businesses must maintain personal hygiene, keep preparation areas clean and protect food from contamination. They must also ensure the quality of raw materials, arrange regular pest control and keep valid food licences or registrations.
