Buying a sweet box this festive season? Six label checks you must do before you pay

For packaged sweets, locate the applicable expiry or use-by marking before buying. Check whether the remaining period fits your gifting or serving plans. A box purchased well ahead of a celebration needs closer attention to this date.

Look for the FSSAI licence or registration details. FSSAI’s Food Safety Connect app allows consumers to verify them. Checking the business identity gives you a traceable starting point beyond the brand name printed on decorative packaging. 

“Best before” concerns the period during which food retains its expected quality under stated conditions. “Expiry” or “use by” concerns the end of its estimated suitability for consumption. Read the exact wording rather than treating every printed date as interchangeable.

Read the ingredient list and allergen declaration, particularly when buying for someone else. Milk and nuts are relevant examples for many sweets. If a loose assortment lacks clear information, ask the seller what each item contains before purchasing. 

Check whether refrigeration or another storage condition is specified. A printed date depends on the stated conditions being followed. Tell the recipient about relevant instructions, especially when the box will spend time in a car or be opened before serving.

Retain the receipt, seller details and photographs of the label and batch number. FSSAI’s Food Safety Connect app supports filing and tracking food-related grievances. These records help identify the business and product involved if a problem arises.