Lay’s, Thums Up repackaged: FDA finds expired stocks, altered labels in Noida, Navi Mumbai units

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cracked down on 10 companies in Navi Mumbai and Noida for allegedly selling counterfeit food products and repackaging expired items for sale, officials said.

The raids, conducted between August 24 and 29 in coordination with the Thane and Navi Mumbai police, uncovered counterfeit products bearing the labels of popular brands including Lay’s, Kurkure, Maggi, Knorr, Hellmann’s and Thums Up.

According to the FDA, the companies allegedly repackaged expired food stocks, changed manufacturing and expiry dates and pasted stickers over packaging to alter nutritional information.

Among the seized counterfeit products were potato chips and snacks sold under brands such as Lay’s, Kurkure, Bingo Mad Angles, Fun Flips and Fun Masala. Authorities also recovered Maggi instant noodles, Knorr mushroom soup, ready-to-eat products including Rasoi Amritsari Paneer Tikka Masala, Dum Aloo, Paneer Bhurji and Dal Makhni, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and canned beverages such as Thums Up and Limca.

The crackdown covered seven Mumbai-based trading and export firms — Novas Export in Mulund, Joshi Brothers in Ghatkopar, Beyond Export in Malad, Jamnadas Ruttonsay & Co in Fort, Span Impex in Mumbai, Kasturi in Andheri and Angad Export in Chembur.

Three Noida-based entities — Bharat International, Anika Export and Aarnika Export — were also raided. The FDA additionally suspended the licence of Sadhana Enterprises in the Turbhe industrial area.

Overall, the FDA seized 4,942 cartons of food products valued at ₹75.21 lakh as part of the crackdown.