The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has asked the government to adopt a uniform mechanism for handling damaged, expired and non-saleable food products across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain.
In a letter to Union Health Minister J P Nadda dated September 2, its distributors’ body called for intervention by the Health Ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to establish clear accountability for products that are damaged, expire or are otherwise unfit for sale.
AICPDF has argued that manufacturers should be primarily responsible for products they bring to the market until they are safely available to consumers or until they are withdrawn and destroyed if they become inappropriate for consumption.
The federation said the expiry of a commercial return or damage-claim period should not leave unsafe food products without a clearly defined disposal mechanism.
Parle Policy Cited as Example of Industry Concern
AICPDF emphasized its representation is not directed at Parle Products or any other company. But it listed Parle's damage and market-return policy as a symptom of the bigger problem faced by distributors.
The policy includes limitations on damage claims after 90 days and certain conditions under which confectionery products are excluded from normal market returns, the federation said.
AICPDF's main concern is what happens to food products after a distributor's commercial claim is rejected or the claim period expires.
The federation said while a commercial claim may have a time limit, the responsibility of ensuring that unsafe food does not enter the consumer market should continue.
It also said that FMCG companies are currently in different commercial policies around damaged and expired inventory. AICPDF says this creates uncertainty and highlights the need for a common regulatory framework.
Jaipur Expired Food Case Highlights the Risk
The federation mentioned recent enforcement action in Jaipur as an example of the potential risks associated with expired food remaining in the supply chain.
In March 2026, Rajasthan authorities destroyed nearly 1.5 lakh kg of expired Amul-branded non-dairy food products after officials discovered an attempt to erase expiry dates and prepare them for resale. Around 12,000 cartons of expired products were found, with expiry dates supposedly wiped out from products in about 3,000 cartons.
In addition, officials found chemicals including thinner and acetone in the warehouse. The seized products were destroyed over four days involving 27 truckloads.
This case shows why distributors and manufacturers need to have clear procedures for identifying, isolating, and permanently disposing of expired inventory.
Navi Mumbai Case Raises Further Food Safety Concerns
AICPDF also pointed to a recent enforcement action in Navi Mumbai involving manipulation of manufacturing and expiry dates on packaged food products.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized food products worth over Rs 75 lakh after expiry-date tampering, the newspaper reported. It said products including packaged foods from well-known brands are among those seized.
Such cases are increasing concerns about traceability and the possibility of expired or altered products being reintroduced into the market.
AICPDF's Proposed SOP
AICPDF has called for a mandatory and uniform standard operating procedure (SOP) covering damaged, expired, and non-saleable food products.
The proposed framework would include immediate identification and segregation of affected products, batch-level tracking and withdrawal from saleable inventory. The federation has also sought an accountable collection system through which such products can be transferred for authorised destruction.
Another key demand is documented proof of destruction. AICPDF wants safeguards that can demonstrate that products removed from the market have actually been destroyed and cannot subsequently return to the consumer supply chain.
The federation has also called for clear primary responsibility to be placed on manufacturers for the collection and destruction of such products wherever appropriate.
Focus on Consumer Safety
AICPDF said the issue should not be viewed simply as a commercial dispute involving distributor margins or recovery of losses from damaged inventory.
Instead, it wants the government to treat the disposal of expired and unsafe food as a public-health and consumer-safety issue.
A uniform system may also help traceability by making it easier for authorities to identify where expired products originated, how they moved through the supply chain and how they were ultimately disposed of.
The federation has therefore asked the Health Ministry and FSSAI to review existing practices, introduce common standards and, where necessary, require manufacturers to revise and publish their policies about damaged stock, expiry and destruction.
With food-safety enforcement in various states continuing, AICPDF's demand puts the focus back on what happens to products once they have been removed from the stores and are no longer safe for consumers. Such a national mechanism will ensure that damaged, expired, or unsafe food is removed and destroyed before it reaches consumers.
Comments
Please to leave a comment on this article.