Delhi High Court Flags Expired Products Being Repackaged: “This Cannot Be A Business”

The Delhi High Court is concerned about the sale of expired food products being repackaged and sold with new expiry dates. They emphasized that people should not have to consume “adulterated” food items and selling expired products cannot be a business. The court asked for suggestions on how to tackle this issue, with a proposal for manufacturers to generate QR codes for all packed food items to track original expiry dates. The court also mentioned that penalties for violations should be revisited for greater deterrence. Authorities were directed to ramp up sample collection and testing, and alleged counterfeiters were asked to be present in court. The PIL was initiated after instances of expired products being repackaged came to light, with the court finding a coordinated mechanism in place for this practice.