Uttar Pradesh to Require Use-By Dates on Sweets From October 15

Shoppers buying sweets in Uttar Pradesh are set to see clearer information about when those products should be consumed. The state’s Food Safety and Drug Administration has announced that sweets displayed or stored for sale must carry a visible use-by date from October 15, 2026. The requirement is particularly significant for loose sweets sold from trays and counters, where customers may have no package label to check.

The department said the decision followed inspections of sweet-making and retail establishments. Officials found that customers were not consistently given clear information about when sweets had been made or how long they remained suitable for consumption. A use-by date is intended to make that information available before a purchase, rather than leaving shoppers to rely on an assurance that a product is fresh.

What will change at the counter?

Under the announced measure, sellers are to display the last date for using sweets kept for sale, including loose varieties. The date should be clear enough for a customer to identify which sweets it applies to. Someone choosing from several trays should be able to check the date for the particular item they want, rather than assume that one date covers everything in the display.

The state has described the requirement as applying to sweets displayed or stored for sale. Packaged sweets already have date-labelling requirements; the practical change for many shoppers will be the expectation of visible use-by information for sweets that are not sold in a pre-labelled pack. The announcement does not establish that every individual sweet must carry its own sticker, and shoppers should not assume a specific label format unless the department sets one out.

The department’s order, issued by Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Roshan Jacob, notes that sweets do not all keep for the same length of time. Depending on the type, the stated usable period can range from about one day to 30 days. That range is not a blanket promise that any sweet will last a month. A date for one product should not be applied to another, even when the two are sold side by side.

What shoppers should look for

Before buying loose sweets, look for a readable use-by date associated with the item or its tray. Check that it gives you enough time to eat or gift the sweets as planned. If the display is unclear, ask the seller which date applies to the sweets being packed for you. For a pre-packed box, check the information printed on its label rather than relying on a date shown elsewhere in the shop.

It also helps to distinguish between a use-by date and a manufacturing date. The first tells a buyer the stated final date for use; the second says when the product was made. Knowing the manufacturing date can provide context, but it does not, by itself, tell a shopper how long a particular sweet is intended to remain usable. If a shop provides both, check that they refer to the same product.

A printed date is not a substitute for sensible handling. Shoppers should follow any storage instructions supplied with packaged sweets and ask how to store loose items they plan to keep. If sweets appear poorly stored or their condition raises doubts, a date on a sign should not be treated as a guarantee of quality.

Why this is a new state measure

India’s food regulator previously required a “best before” date on trays of loose Indian sweets, but withdrew that national direction in November 2023, leaving such display optional under that direction. Uttar Pradesh’s announcement therefore addresses a gap for loose sweets in the state. A “best before” marking and the newly announced “use by” wording should not be treated as interchangeable descriptions of the same order.

The confirmed start date for the state measure is October 15, 2026. Details such as a prescribed sign design, an automatic fine for a missing date or a statewide inspection schedule should not be assumed from the announcement. For customers, the immediate takeaway is simpler: identify the date for the sweets you are buying, and ask before paying if it is missing or difficult to match to the product.