Mumbai warehouse faked expiry dates

Indian authorities raided an illicit warehouse in Mumbai last week, seizing nearly $80,000 worth of food export products. The operation, run by Sadhana Enterprises, systematically altered expiry dates and nutritional information on goods from major brands like PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Unilever.

Reuters gained exclusive access during the six-day investigation by Maharashtra state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency's head, Tukaram Mundhe, told reporters he was shocked by the scale. He described the activity as organised and systematic.

The warehouse, located in Navi Mumbai about 25 km from the international airport, operated on behalf of 19 little-known exporters, according to a state media release and a police case document. All the seized stock was intended for export, though the specific destination countries were not clear.

The Raid and Seized Goods

Officials confiscated nearly 5,000 cartons of consumer products. Many items had their original dates removed. The following table lists the major brands and products found during the raid:

Inside the warehouse, a Reuters photographer documented a can of chemical solvent used to erase dates from packaging. Workers used a computer and a printing machine fitted to a metal table to apply fake labels. A police document stated the original dates were scratched out and new information printed over them.

Falsified Labels for Export

The investigation revealed detailed forgery to meet foreign regulations. Mundhe's team found packs being reprinted with a future manufacturing date of October 2, 2026. Dozens of Maggi noodle cartons had fake nutrition labels pasted on top, declaring them a Product of India.

One PepsiCo Kurkure pack featured a bilingual nutrition label in English and French. This fake label reduced the stated quantity of cereal products by 10% and altered calorie counts and serving sizes. The changes appeared designed to align with foreign labelling rules.

Regulatory Response and Accountability

The police case did not accuse the global food companies of any wrongdoing. However, FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe called for greater supply chain accountability. He urged companies to ensure branding, packaging, and sales comply with regulations.

PepsiCo, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, and Coca-Cola did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Calls to warehouse co-owners Jayprakash Sanchatiram Singh and Jaya Navrang Bahadur Singh were not answered. It was unclear if any arrests had been made.

The raid is part of an intensified food safety drive in Maharashtra under Mundhe, whose surprise inspections have garnered significant public attention. The discovery of an operation systematically altering labels on products from the world's largest food companies highlights a complex challenge in export compliance.