Mumbai Warehouse Raided Over Fake Food Labels and Expiry Dates

Indian food safety authorities have raided an illegal warehouse operation in Navi Mumbai accused of altering expiry dates and nutritional information on original food products made by major global companies, including PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Unilever. During a six-day investigation, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration officials seized goods worth nearly $80,000. Authorities found chemicals allegedly used to erase original expiry dates, printing equipment for replacement labels and thousands of product packages, including Lay’s, Kurkure and Maggi.

The warehouse, operated by privately owned Sadhana Enterprises, contained nearly 5,000 cartons of consumer products, officials said. Many items were expired or close to expiry, with their original manufacturing and expiry dates allegedly removed and replaced. Investigators also found products carrying altered nutritional labels, including Maggi noodles and PepsiCo’s Kurkure. Some labels appeared designed for overseas markets, with bilingual English-French information and changes to ingredients, calorie figures and serving sizes.

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration chief Tukaram Mundhe described the operation as systematic and organised, warning that altered products could pose risks to consumers in foreign markets. The police case does not accuse the global food companies of wrongdoing, while authorities are investigating the exporters allegedly linked to the warehouse. Officials also called for greater supply-chain accountability, stressing that manufacturers, exporters and distributors must ensure that food products and their packaging comply with safety and labelling regulations.

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