Joseph Lewis D’Silva
The words, ‘expiry date’, ‘Best before ‘or ‘Best by’, is a time limit of products when the manufactured goods are to be removed from the sale shelf.
Such a date is found on food stuff — like loaf of bread, milk and so forth; because food items do not remain fresh after that date and therefore, are unfit for consumption; — and on medicines, as beyond that year limit, it is usually ineffective.
The equivalent to ‘expiry date’ is found on many other things like warranties and licenses – as ‘valid up to’ and these words come to the same thing as ‘death date’ of humans. Yes, not only, the life of products is short, but also humans have the short march of time on this good earth for the rat race to earn one’s bread in this drama of life.
I, at times, wonder what would have happened if the creator had made known to every person the fall of the curtain of one’s existence in the corridor of time here in this world. Many feel, that everyone would play the devil by breaking all the Ten Commandments and ask forgiveness to the forgiving God just before the death warrant, and be a saint to gain entry into that high place called Heaven; and there would be no everlasting torment in that deep place called Hell.
Leaving this date of human extinction and coming back to the expiry date on products where it is printed in little letters, makes one wonder whether the intention of the sellers is to take the buyers for a ride; by selling even expired products to make maximum money. If this is so then it is like in a grocery shop where some food grains are sold with microscopic stones mixed in them, thus making the buyer to suffer a little loss. Perhaps, sellers want to increase their profit and lessen their loss. Yes, where there is honey, ants can’t be far away.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are vigilant folk. They protect us from the possibility of harmful products; and are always worried that we the citizens of India may not consume injurious ingredients. But, many feel that FSSAI turns a blind eye to the petite words of communication — ‘expiry date’; perhaps because no one has brought this negative point before them. So, many end up in buying expired foodstuff; swallowing expired food; and drinking adulterated juices.
I am compelled to think that there is no nitpick, because many are blissfully insensitive to the tremendous ill-effect on their health. Their curiosity is not excited by these tiny words. Some think, maybe due to deliberate lack of judgment, that this small little intimation – ‘expiry date’– is a mere decoration. Others skip and forget it because they don’t take it seriously or they are not convinced about the power of these words to create a reaction in their body if disobeyed.
But there are health conscious people who would appreciate if FSSAI insists that such ‘expiry date’ is written in bold letter and in the middle of the product.
