States » NorthPosted at: Sep 27 2026 5:30PM


'Use by date' mandatory on sweets in UP from Oct 15

Lucknow, Sep 27 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government has made it mandatory for sweet manufacturers and sellers to display the “use by date” on sweets kept for sale from October 15, 2026, in a move aimed at improving food safety and protecting consumer interests.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department said the provision would apply particularly to loose sweets, for which there was previously no mandatory requirement to display the final date by which they should be consumed.
The department said the move would ensure that buyers have clear information about the freshness and usable period of sweets.
According to the department, inspections of sweet manufacturing and selling establishments found that consumers were often not provided clear information about the manufacturing date and usable period of sweets, making it difficult for them to assess their freshness at the time of purchase.
An order issued by Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob said the usable period of sweets varies according to their type and can range from one day to 30 days. Over time, the quality, taste and freshness of sweets can deteriorate, making it important for consumers to know the final date of use.
The department said clearly displaying the use-by date would help consumers make informed decisions about the freshness and quality of sweets and purchase them according to their requirements.
At present, packaged sweets are required to carry an expiry date or “use by date”, but there was no clear mandatory provision covering loose sweets. The new directive seeks to bridge this gap by requiring establishments to prominently display the use-by date on sweets displayed and stored for sale.

The department said the measure is being implemented under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, aimed at safeguarding human health and protecting consumer interests.The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides for the protection of consumers' interests and for maintaining an appropriate level of protection of human life and health. Section 18(1)(a) of the Act provides for efforts toward safeguarding human life and health and protecting consumer interests in the context of food safety standards and fair practices in food trade. Similarly, under Section 30(2)(d) of the Act, responsibility has been fixed for ensuring transparency, reliability, and objectivity along with the effective and uniform implementation of food safety standards and other prescribed provisions. Based on these legal provisions, a new arrangement regarding the usable period of sweets is being implemented in Uttar Pradesh.
After the new arrangement comes into effect, consumers will have clear information about the final use date of sweets at the time of purchase. This will enable them to buy sweets according to their needs and reduce the potential risks associated with consuming sweets that have been stored for longer periods. The arrangement aims to increase transparency in the sweets trade and provide consumers with essential information about the food products they purchase.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has also banned the use of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol as coolants in milk and milk-product processing units in the state.
The department said inspections found that some milk processing establishments were using the chemicals during processes such as pasteurisation and refrigeration.
It said ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol could pose serious health risks if they entered food products, including in the event of leakage from processing equipment.
The department said propylene glycol could be used as an alternative, adding that many milk processing units were already using it.
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