The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has made it mandatory for sweet shops and manufacturing establishments in the state to display a use-by date for sweets, including loose sweets, from 15 October 2026. The order applies to sweets sold in loose form and to sweets prepared in manufacturing units across Uttar Pradesh.
Use-by Date and Food Labelling
A use-by date is a food labelling term that indicates the last date for safe consumption of a product. In India, packaged foods already carry expiry-related information under food safety rules, while loose sweets earlier did not have a mandatory display requirement for such dates.
The new requirement covers sweets with different shelf lives, as the usable period of sweets can range from one day to 30 days depending on ingredients, moisture content, and storage conditions. The rule is intended to standardise information on freshness and consumption period for consumers buying loose sweets.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is the principal law governing food safety regulation in India. It provides the legal framework for food standards, labelling, inspection, enforcement, and consumer protection in relation to food products.
The Uttar Pradesh measure is linked to food safety and public health provisions under this Act. Food business operators in India are subject to compliance requirements on hygiene, labelling, and safe handling under the food safety framework.
Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol
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. Both chemicals are toxic industrial compounds and are not permitted for use in food processing applications.
Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol have been associated with serious health risks when they contaminate food or beverages. Their restriction is part of food safety controls for dairy processing units.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is the main law for food regulation in India.
- Loose sweets earlier did not have a mandatory use-by date display requirement in Uttar Pradesh.
- The new Uttar Pradesh rule applies from 15 October 2026.
- Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are toxic chemicals used in industrial applications and are banned for coolant use in milk processing units.
Consumer Labelling in Food Products
Food labelling in India commonly includes manufacturing date, best before date, use-by date, ingredients, and allergen information for packaged products. Loose food items are regulated through food safety inspections, hygiene standards, and state-level enforcement measures.
