Offering food to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami is considered an important part of reverence and faith. Devotees later distribute the food offered to the Lord as Prasad among the family and others. In such a situation, it is very important for the food items used for offering to be fresh, pure and safe.
Recently, after a case of alleged tampering with the expiry date of food items came to light in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, caution regarding purchasing packaged food items has increased. In such a situation, some important things should be kept in mind while buying butter, sugar candy, dry fruits, Panjiri or other packaged items on Janmashtami.
Janmashtami Bhog: Take special care of purity in Bhog
In religious beliefs, special importance is given to cleanliness and purity in the offerings made to God. After offering, this food becomes Prasad, which can be consumed by children, elderly people and people observing fast.
Therefore, it is not enough to buy goods just by looking at the price of the packet or attractive packaging. It is important to check the complete condition of the packet along with Manufacturing Date, Best Before and Expiry Date.
Case of tampering with expiry date came to light in Navi Mumbai
According to media reports, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration had taken action against a warehouse in Turbhe area of Navi Mumbai. It was revealed that about 5,000 cartons of food items were found here.
According to reports, these included many products like chips, snacks, noodles, soup, mayonnaise and cold drinks. It is alleged that old or nearing expiry date was being erased on some products with chemical solvent and new date was being printed with the help of machine.
Information about changed manufacturing date and new labels on some packets also came to light. However, it has not been proved that the same packets with changed date were sold in the Indian market. Also, it would not be appropriate to name any big brand as being involved in this alleged malpractice.
Keep these 7 things in mind while buying packets
1. Look carefully around the date
If scratches, stains, erased ink or unusual printing are visible around the Manufacturing Date or Expiry Date, avoid purchasing such a packet.
2. Be careful if you see double printing
If a light shadow of old printing is visible below any date or a number is seen printed twice, it is better to buy another packet.
3. Check the ink and printing
If the expiry date printing appears to be significantly different from the rest of the information or the ink is spread abnormally, the reliability of the product may be in question.
4. Check the additional stickers carefully
Not every extra sticker is fake. Additional labels may be placed on many products as per rules. But be careful if a sticker appears to hide outdated information or doesn't match the manufacturer's information.
5. Be sure to check the seal of the packet.
If you see a swollen packet, broken seal, leakage or abnormal air inside the packet, do not buy it. Despite the correct date, one should avoid using such a product.
6. Check FSSAI and Batch Number
Manufacturer's name, FSSAI License Number, Batch or Lot Number, MRP and Customer Care information should be clearly mentioned on the packet.
7. Be sure to take the purchase bill.
While purchasing food items in large quantities, it is very important to take the bill. If there is a complaint regarding the goods later, the bill and packet can serve as important evidence.
What is the difference between Best Before and Expiry Date?
Best Before usually refers to the period within which the quality, taste and texture of the product are expected to remain at its best.
Whereas Expiry Date or Use By shows the last time limit for safe use of the product. Especially in the case of perishable items like milk, mawa, mayonnaise and some sweets, one should not be careless about the date.
It is not right to consider a food item as safe just by looking at its smell or colour, because some types of spoilage are not immediately visible or felt.
Feelings are more important than expensive items in Kanha's offering.
In the 26th verse of the ninth chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Shri Krishna says that if a devotee offers a leaf, flower, fruit or water with love and devotion, he accepts it.
Its meaning is that there is no need for expensive or many things to offer food to God. Fresh and pure food offered with devotion is also considered sufficient.
If there is doubt about the quality of mawa, panjiri or any packaged food item purchased from the market, then preparing fresh bhog at home in small quantities may be a better option. Things like fruits, sugar candy, homemade butter or home-made Panjiri can also be included in the offering.
What to do if you find suspicious items?
If you suspect any tampering with the date on a packet, then before using it, save the photograph of the packet, Batch Number, FSSAI License Number and the purchase receipt. It will be useful to note down the name of the shop and the date of purchase.
The official complaint channel of FSSAI can be used for complaints related to food safety. It will be helpful to keep the available documents and photographs safe while making a complaint.
Along with offering food to God on Janmashtami, it is also important to take care of the health of the people receiving the prasad. Therefore, this time while buying goods for Kanha's offering, pay more attention to its date, seal and quality rather than the shiny packet.