Food is something we trust without question. Every day, we purchase products such as ketchup, sauces, biscuits, chips, Kurkure and other packaged snacks. When we pick up a packet from a shop, we naturally rely on the information printed on it especially the manufacturing date, expiry or best-before date, batch number and other required details.
For most consumers, that date is a simple assurance that the product is within its stated shelf life. But what happens when a consumer notices an older date along with a newer sticker, seal or date marking? What happens when the packaging appears unusual, and after opening the product, its smell, appearance or quality does not seem normal? These are questions that deserve attention.
If a food product has reached the end of its stated shelf life, it should be removed from the market and handled according to applicable food-safety requirements. So when a consumer notices a newer date or sticker over, near or in place of an earlier marking, a simple question naturally arises: Why is the new date there? Is it part of the manufacturer’s original and authorised packaging process? Was it applied later? Does it correspond with the actual manufacturing and distribution records? Can the authenticity of that marking be verified?
These questions do not automatically mean that a company or retailer has done something wrong. A suspicious-looking label is not, by itself, proof of fraud or illegal relabelling. But a genuine concern deserves a genuine investigation. Consumers should not be expected to determine the truth simply by looking at a packet.
Science makes one thing clear: food does not remain unchanged forever. Food quality can be affected over time by factors such as temperature, moisture, oxygen, light, microorganisms and chemical reactions. The effect depends on the type of food, its formulation, processing, packaging and storage conditions. Fats and oils, for example, can undergo oxidation over time, which may affect their quality and smell. Moisture can change the texture and stability of food, while unsuitable conditions can contribute to microbial growth in certain products. This is why manufacturers establish a product’s shelf life by considering its ingredients, processing, packaging and expected storage conditions. The date printed on a packet therefore has a purpose. A new sticker cannot scientifically make an old food product fresh again.
Food safety depends on the actual product, its processing, packaging, storage conditions and compliance with applicable requirements not simply on the appearance of a newly printed date. If a packaged food has an unusual smell, appearance, taste or texture after opening, consumers should not simply ignore these warning signs. They should avoid consuming a questionable product and consider reporting it to the appropriate food-safety authority.
Consumers may sometimes notice a new date or sticker appearing over, near or in place of an earlier marking. Some consumers may also notice that a marking appears to become disturbed when the packet is rubbed or handled. However, this alone does not prove that a sticker is fake or that an expiry date has been illegally changed. Different printing and labelling technologies are used in food packaging. That is precisely why proper verification matters.
Instead of consumers trying to investigate packaging themselves, authorities should be able to determine:
- Whether the date is part of the original packaging.
- Whether the marking was authorised.
- Whether it matches manufacturing records.
- Whether the batch number is traceable.
- Whether distribution records support the stated date.
- Whether the product meets applicable safety and labelling requirements.
If everything is genuine, an inspection should be able to establish that clearly. If original information has been improperly covered, altered or replaced, appropriate action should follow under the applicable rules. The answer should come from evidence—not assumptions or rumours.
Food is not merely a product being sold for profit. It is something that enters another person’s body. That creates a serious ethical responsibility. Islam places great importance on honesty, justice, transparency and trust in trade. The Qur’an states: And give full measure and weight in justice.
(Qur’an 6:152) Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83:1–3) also gives a strong warning against unfairness in commercial dealings.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also emphasised truthfulness and transparency in business transactions. Authentic narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim explain that when a buyer and seller are truthful and clearly disclose relevant information, their transaction is blessed; when they conceal or misrepresent matters, that blessing is lost. This principle becomes especially important when the product being sold is food. A food label is not just ink on a packet. It is information on which a person’s health decision may depend. If a consumer is given misleading information about a product’s date or condition, that trust is put at risk. At the same time, Islam teaches us not to accuse people without evidence. Therefore, the correct approach is: Do not accuse without proof. Do not ignore genuine concerns. Investigate and establish the truth.
Packaged snacks are frequently consumed by children. They may not understand expiry dates, packaging marks or labelling practices; they simply trust the adults who buy the food for them. Parents should therefore be able to trust the information provided on food packaging. If a product has genuinely passed its shelf life, it should not reach consumers through misleading labelling or packaging. Children’s health should never become secondary to commercial interests. This does not mean that every packaged snack is unsafe. Nor does it mean that every unusual-looking sticker represents wrongdoing. It means that every legitimate concern about food safety deserves a proper answer.
An ordinary consumer cannot inspect manufacturing records. A consumer cannot trace a packet through every stage of its supply chain. A consumer cannot perform laboratory tests on every product they purchase. Therefore, food safety cannot be placed entirely on the shoulders of consumers.
Where complaints or concerns about suspicious dates, stickers or labels arise, responsible authorities should have an effective system to:
- Inspect the actual packaging.
- Verify batch and manufacturing information.
- Examine the printing and labelling process.
- Trace relevant distribution records.
- Conduct laboratory testing where scientifically necessary.
- Take appropriate action when violations are established.
Consumers should also have an accessible and reliable way to report questionable products. This concern is not an attempt to declare any particular company, retailer or brand guilty. It is a question for the wider food-safety system: Are the systems in place strong enough to ensure that the dates consumers rely upon are accurate, authentic and properly regulated? If a product has genuinely crossed its shelf life, is it being removed from the market appropriately? If a new date or sticker appears on a packet, can its authenticity be verified? If a consumer reports a suspicious product, will the complaint receive proper attention? These questions deserve answers based on records, inspections and scientific evidence.
Consumers should not have to become detectives before buying something as basic as food. We should not have to wonder whether a date is original, whether a sticker was added later, or whether the information on a packet accurately represents the product inside. At the same time, responsible journalism requires us to distinguish between an observation and a proven fact. A suspicious label is a reason to investigate not a reason to make an unsupported accusation.
Likewise, the absence of proof of wrongdoing should not become an excuse to ignore a legitimate consumer complaint. We need a system where concerns are investigated before they become public-health problems. Science tells us that food can deteriorate under certain conditions. Islam teaches us that honesty, justice and trust are essential in trade. Food-safety regulations provide mechanisms for protecting consumers. These principles must work together.
We do not want rumours. We want verification. We do not want accusations without evidence. We want accountability when violations are proven. We do not want consumers guessing about the food they eat. We want transparency. Manufacturers should maintain accurate and traceable labelling systems. Retailers should follow proper storage and distribution practices. Authorities should investigate genuine complaints. And consumers should have access to reliable information.
