New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- When buying a packaged food product online or in a store, checking its manufacturing date, expiry date, 'use by' date, or 'best before' date is imperative, as several reports continue to emerge about consumers being sold old, expired products.

Earlier in July, India's food regulator FSSAI issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart after a series of consumer complaints alleged delivery of expired, spoiled and contaminated food products, putting the spotlight on food safety standards in the country's rapidly expanding quick commerce sector.

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department reportedly directed food business to clearly declare the actual manufacturing or processing date on packag...