A joint raid by the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Management (DoCSCPM) and Nepal Police on Tuesday found that expired food items, including pasta, biscuits and chocolates, were being sent to the market with new dates.
According to DoCSCPM, police arrested a man and seized a labeling machine as he was replacing the expiry dates with renewed ones at the warehouse belonging to Agad Nepal Venture in Balaju.
“We have sealed two warehouses and seized relabeling machines, chemicals, documents and samples of household items,” informed DoCSCPM Director and Spokesperson, Shivaraj Sedhai. The Department has stated that the quantity, as well as quality evaluation of the items seized from one of the warehouse, is ongoing.
The warehouses were run by Prabhat Dev, but he is absconding and a search for him is ongoing, police said. Prior to this, the Department had sealed off a store and arrested three persons from Sanobharyang in the capital city in connection with relabeling of expired cosmetic goods and lubricants.
As per the Department, preliminary investigation showed that many big warehouse owners are involved in relabeling and selling expired daily consumable food items. Various types of chocolates, choco choco, Swiss Rolls, Soy chunks, Mexican Vegetable Cracker Biscuits, Barcakes, pasta and other food items are being sent to the market after replacing expiry dates.
