JAIPUR: The Food Safety Department of Rajasthan has taken immediate action following the discovery of a local distribution firm engaged in illegal activities involving Amul products. Approximately 1.5 lakh kilograms of expired food items were destroyed after officials discovered that M/s Athlete Distributor had been altering expiry dates on the packaging to sell near-expiry goods. This alarming revelation came after a complaint was lodged via the state government's helpline regarding suspicious practices at the distributor's warehouse.

A team led by the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) conducted a raid and uncovered nearly 12,000 cartons of expired products, including noodles, ketchup, mayonnaise, and energy drinks. The atmosphere at the warehouse raised suspicions, as neighbors reported concerns about unusual activity. "Once 10 to 12 workers entered, the main gate remained shut all day,” noted Food Safety Commissioner T. Shubhmangala.

The investigation revealed that improper methods were employed to alter the expiration dates. Materials including bottles of thinner, acetone, and other chemicals used for stripping printed dates were discovered along with 4,500 new cartons meant for repackaging the outdated stock. Gagan Ahuja, the operator of the firm, admitted during questioning that he learned how to manipulate expiry dates through instructional videos on YouTube.

In response to the situation, all expired products were systematically destroyed over four days, requiring 27 trucks to transport the items to a designated dumping yard, all at the distributor's expense. An ongoing investigation seeks to determine whether these expired products had already infiltrated the market.

The firm’s food license was found to be expired, and as a precautionary measure, the warehouse has been sealed, barring the distributor from engaging in any food-related operations. Representatives from Amul's parent company confirmed that the expiration dates had indeed been tampered with, raising further concerns about consumer safety and the integrity of food distribution channels in Rajasthan.