Indian Authorities Raid Warehouse Falsifying Expiry Dates on Global Food Brands

Indian authorities have raided an illicit warehouse in Mumbai where food products from major global brands had their expiry dates and nutritional information allegedly erased and replaced for export.

The six-day operation in Navi Mumbai uncovered nearly 5,000 cartons of consumer products, including Lay's and Kurkure chips, Maggi noodles, Knorr Mushroom Soup, Hellmann's Mayonnaise, and Coca-Cola's Thums Up and Limca drinks.

According to a police case document, original manufacturing and expiry dates had been scratched out or erased before new information was printed over them. Officials said most of the products found at the warehouse were either expired or close to their expiry dates.

Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief, described the operation as a systematic and organised activity, saying 'I am absolutely shocked by the scale.' The warehouse, operated by privately owned Sadhana Enterprises, was allegedly carrying out the activities for 19 little-known exporters.

Most of the products were intended entirely for export, although authorities said they had not established the countries they were destined for. Fake nutrition labels discovered during the operation included a modified nutrition sticker on a Maggi package and an altered label on a PepsiCo Kurkure packet.

The police case did not accuse PepsiCo, Nestle, Unilever, or Coca-Cola of wrongdoing. However, Mundhe called for greater accountability across food supply chains, saying 'Everybody needs to take this seriously.' The raid comes as Maharashtra intensifies food safety enforcement under Mundhe.