'Best before Date' and 'Date of Manufacturing' on Non-Packaged Sweets a Must from June: FSSAI

Concerned over food safety and to sustain good food quality, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come up with some new guidelines for the local sweet shop to avoid any unwanted conditions. The local sweet shops will have to display the 'best before date' and 'date of manufacturing' on non-packaged or loose sweets kept in a container or tray for sale at their outlets. As per reports, FSSAI has issued the direction after reports of instances of sale of stale/expired sweets to consumers posing potential health. At present, it is mandatory to mention these details on labels of pre-packaged/pre-packed sweets.

"In the public interest and to ensure food safety, it has been decided that in case of non-packaged/loose sweets, the container/tray holding sweets at the outlet for sale should display the 'date of manufacturing' and 'best before date' of the product," said the FSSAI statement.

This will be effective from June 1, 2020, FSSAI added. Moreover, the regulator said that food business operators (FBOs) should decide and display the 'best before date' of sweets depending upon the nature of the product and local conditions. Food safety commissioners of states have been asked to ensure compliance with these directions so far.