1. Inspect the Print and Packaging
The most immediate giveaway of a fake date is often the quality of the print itself. Look closely at the area where the manufacturing and expiry dates are printed. Unscrupulous sellers often use chemical solvents to erase the original date and then reprint
a new one. This process can leave tell-tale signs. Check for ink that is smudged, blurry, or unevenly applied. Does the font or colour of the date's ink look different from the rest of the text on the package? Also, feel the area with your finger. If it feels scratched, rough, or has an unusual texture, it could be a sign that the original date was physically scraped off before being replaced.
2. Look for Suspicious Stickers
A common tactic to hide an old expiry date is to simply place a sticker with a new date over the original one. While some stickers are legitimate parts of packaging, be extra cautious if a sticker is placed precisely over the date information. Try to peek under the edge of the sticker to see if another date is visible beneath it. According to food safety guidelines, all essential information should be clearly printed and legible. A sticker that conveniently obscures only the expiry date is a major red flag. When in doubt, it’s always safer to choose another package where the details are clearly and directly printed on the container.
3. Check the Overall Package Integrity
A tampered date often goes hand-in-hand with tampered packaging. Before you even look at the date, give the entire product a quick inspection. Check for broken seals, signs of glue around flaps, or torn plastic. Any indication that the package has been opened and resealed should be a warning. Also, look for damage like punctures, leaks, or rust on cans. Swollen or bulging packages can indicate bacterial growth inside, meaning the product is unsafe regardless of the printed date. Counterfeiters may produce a close copy, but they rarely perfect it, so flimsy packaging or off-brand colouring can also be a giveaway.
4. Compare Dates and Batch Numbers
Legitimate manufacturers print dates in a consistent manner, often alongside a batch or lot number. Under FSSAI regulations, this batch identification is mandatory and allows products to be traced back to their manufacturing origin. Take a moment to see if the date and batch number look like they were printed at the same time, with the same quality of ink. Sometimes, a fake date is printed, but the original batch number is left untouched. If you are buying multiple units of the same product, compare them. Inconsistencies in the date format, print quality, or placement between identical products on the same shelf can be a strong indicator of tampering.
5. Understand 'Use By' vs. 'Best Before'
Finally, knowing the difference between date labels is crucial. An 'Expiry Date' or 'Use By' date is about safety. Consuming a product after this date poses a direct health risk, as it may contain harmful bacteria. A 'Best Before' date, on the other hand, is about quality. The food is generally safe to eat after this date, but its flavour, texture, or nutritional value may have declined. Tampering often occurs with products nearing their 'Use By' date. Falsifying this date is a serious offence because it misleads consumers into buying something that could be genuinely harmful. Being an informed consumer means treating 'Use By' dates as a strict deadline for safety.
