India Cracks Down on Illicit Food Product Alteration Operation

Indian authorities have cracked down on an illicit operation in Navi Mumbai that allegedly altered expiry dates and nutritional information on packaged food products meant for export. The operation involved major brands including PepsiCo, Nestlé, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, with officials seizing goods worth nearly $80,000.

Audit teams found thousands of cartons of products such as Lay’s, Kurkure, Maggi noodles, Knorr soup, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and Thums Up. Officials said chemicals were used to erase original expiry dates, while machines were used to print replacement dates. Some products also had modified nutrition labels pasted over the original information.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration described the activity as systematic and warned of potential risks to consumers. The investigation has intensified amid a broader food-safety crackdown in Maharashtra, with authorities calling for greater accountability across food companies’ export supply chains.