The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently seized a large stock of expired dates from an e-commerce Flipkart warehouse in Coimbatore. The incident has raised concerns about the handling of expired food products in storage facilities.
Expired Dates Found During Inspection
On July 17, FSSAI officials found 273.6 kg of expired black dates of the brand ‘Manna’ at a Flipkart India Private Limited warehouse located in Okkilipalayam on Palladam Road near Othakalmandapam. The inspection was part of a three-day drive covering 37 e-commerce warehouses in Coimbatore, based on directions from the Tamil Nadu Health Secretary and the Commissioner of Food Safety.
According to T. Anuradha, the Designated Officer for FSSAI in Coimbatore, two batches of dates were found—one batch had expired on May 19, 2025, and the other on May 30, 2025. The expired dates were placed on storage racks alongside other products meant for sale, which violates food safety rules.
Expired Products Destroyed
Although Flipkart initially stated that the expired stock would be returned to the manufacturer, FSSAI officials did not allow this and destroyed all the expired products. Dr. Anuradha emphasized that expired items should be stored separately and clearly marked as ‘not for sale’.
Flipkart Responds to the Incident
In response, Flipkart issued a statement saying that the expired products had already been identified and kept aside as part of their regular quality checks. The company claimed that these products were stored in a designated area and were never meant for sale. Flipkart also mentioned that they use advanced technology and strict processes to ensure that only fresh products with sufficient shelf life reach customers.
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