After Products Found Stored For Packing/Labelling At Later DateLucknow: In a move aimed at improving consumer transparency and food-safety, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department directed food businesses to clearly declare the actual date of manufacture or processing on packaged food products.The directive follows special inspections of food manufacturing units, during which officials found instances of food products being stored for extended periods after production before being repacked into smaller quantities. Such practices can make it difficult for consumers to determine the actual age of a product and its remaining shelf life.The department said the requirement would apply to food products packed within UP and cover manufacturers, repackers and relabellers.Food safety officials said shelf-life of a product begins from the date it is actually manufactured or processed. Its quality may decline over time depending on the nature of the product and storage conditions.The issue becomes particularly important when older food products are subsequently used as ingredients in other food items. Without accurate manufacturing information, products that are close to the end of their permitted shelf life could potentially enter the food chain without adequate traceability.The directive, issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration department commissioner, is aimed at strengthening traceability, transparency and food-safety controls.The department said consumers should be able to determine when a food product was actually manufactured so that they can make informed decisions about its freshness and remaining shelf life.The mandate was issued with reference to provisions concerning food safety and consumer protection under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Food safety teams will verify manufacturing information on product labels during inspections and enforcement drives.The department said accurate manufacturing-date declarations would help authorities trace products through the supply chain and reduce the possibility of older or quality-compromised food products entering circulation without adequate information about their age.Food businesses in UP were directed to ensure compliance with the new requirement while manufacturing, repacking and relabelling food products.