Bhubaneswar: A recent crackdown by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on local retail outlets has raised concerns about the safety of packaged food products sold in the city, particularly items popular among children, such as frozen and ready-to-cook snacks.Acting on consumer complaints, BMC enforcement teams conducted inspections at several stores in Chandrasekharpur and seized a large quantity of stale and expired packaged food products. The confiscated items were later destroyed, officials said.“We received complaints regarding the sale of stale food products in some outlets. During inspections, our teams found packaged food items that were unfit for consumption. Such products pose a serious health risk and have been destroyed accordingly,” Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das said, adding the enforcement teams had been undertaking the raids and penalising the violators. “The teams have also destroyed over 100kg of unhygienic food, seized from roadside eateries and hotels,” said the mayor, admitting the difficulties faced in identifying stale foods inside packets.The raid has sparked worries among parents who often rely on branded packaged foods, believing them to be safe because they carry manufacturing and expiry dates. However, officials suspect that some retailers may be engaging in tampering practices, including altering expiry-related information to continue selling old stock.Food safety experts warned that consumption of expired frozen and packaged foods can lead to food poisoning, stomach infections and other health complications, especially among children whose immunity levels are lower than adults in general.The matter has shaken consumer confidence. “We believed that products sold in sealed packets are safe. If retailers are tampering with expiry dates or selling stale products, it is extremely alarming,” said Namita Jena, a resident of Chandrasekharpur.People even complained of receiving and mistakenly buying dairy products such as milk and curd with dates expired through quick-delivery apps as well as at local marts. “A few days ago, I ordered a milk pouch online, only to find the expiry date on it three days back and the sour smell on opening it confirmed it. When you pay a premium for home delivery, the very least you expect is that someone checks the date before dropping it at your doorstep,” said Suryansh Rath, a resident of Sailashree Vihar.Consumer rights activists have called for stricter monitoring of retail outlets and harsher penalties against businesses found violating food safety norms. They also urged shoppers to carefully check packaging, storage conditions and expiry dates before making purchases.The BMC officials said inspections would continue across the city and warned that traders found selling expired or unsafe food products would face stringent action under food safety regulations. “We urge the people to be careful while purchasing such items. We will take strict action based on their complaints,” the mayor said.
