Several sweet shops in Rudrapur displayed prices but not the manufacture and expiry or use-by dates required for open sweets and bakery products, raising concerns about how customers can judge freshness during the festive season.
A local inspection on Monday found that date information was missing from the trays and counters examined at multiple shops. Without those details, buyers may find it difficult to know how old a sweet is or how long it should remain safe to eat.
The requirement took effect in Uttarakhand on Monday under an order issued by Food Safety Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. The arrangement requires sellers to clearly display both the manufacture date and the expiry or use-by date for open sweets and bakery items kept on trays or counters.
Rudrapur inspections and notices
The Food Safety Department inspected 6 sweet and bakery shops, including establishments in the main market, according to Food Safety Officer Asha Arya. Officials collected 2 sweet samples for testing during the operation.
National Bakery and Sahni Bakery were found displaying products without manufacture and expiry dates. The department issued notices to both businesses. Officials also inspected SK Bakery in the main market and directed it to follow cleanliness and food-quality requirements.
Asha Arya said action would continue against sellers offering adulterated or unlabelled products. The inspections come as demand for sweets, milk, ghee and khoya rises during festivals, a period when the risk of unsafe or adulterated food can increase.
Food Department Joint Director Lalit Mohan Pandey said the rules would be enforced fully. He said inspections would be intensified during the festive season and that action against sweet sellers disregarding the requirements would begin immediately.
What customers should check
A price tag alone does not provide information about a sweet’s freshness. Customers should also consider its texture, smell and storage conditions before buying it.
Sweets made with milk and khoya can spoil faster in warm weather. Buyers should check whether the products are covered, whether the counter is clean and whether the sweets are protected from flies and dust.
For boxed sweets, customers should inspect the seal, manufacturer’s name, ingredients, net weight and other required information. Damaged or poorly sealed packs should be avoided.
Checks in Bazpur
A separate checking drive in Bazpur led to notices for 11 sweet sellers. Senior Food Safety Officer Aparna Shah said the department found that packing and expiry dates were not recorded on some sweet boxes and trays.
The sellers were given 3 days to correct the deficiencies. The team also collected a tea sample from Satpal Grocery Store. Officials said the campaign would continue against adulteration and violations of food-safety requirements.
Conclusion
The Rudrapur inspections found missing manufacture and expiry information at 2 bakeries, while a separate Bazpur drive identified similar labelling problems among 11 sweet sellers. Customers can use the required dates, packaging details and storage conditions to make more informed purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What information must be displayed on open sweets and bakery products?
The manufacture date and expiry or use-by date must be clearly displayed on products kept on trays or counters.
Q. How many Rudrapur shops were inspected?
Food safety officials inspected 6 sweet and bakery shops in Rudrapur.
Q. How many sweet samples were collected in Rudrapur?
2 sweet samples were collected for testing.
Q. Which Rudrapur bakeries received notices?
National Bakery and Sahni Bakery received notices after products were found without manufacture and expiry dates.
Q. What action was taken at SK Bakery?
Officials inspected SK Bakery in the main market and instructed it to follow cleanliness and food-quality standards.
Q. How many Bazpur sweet sellers received notices?
Eleven sweet sellers received notices during the Bazpur checking campaign.
Q. How much time were Bazpur sellers given to make corrections?
They were given 3 days to correct the identified deficiencies.
Q. What should customers check on boxed sweets?
They should check the seal, manufacturer’s name, ingredients, net weight and other required information.
