Dimapur, March 31 (MExN): The Dimapur District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd (DIMUL) has clarified on the issue of “confusing dates” on some of its products, as alleged by a citizen journalist, to be “unethical and deceptive”.
A press statement from DIMUL Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mhasizokho, points out that a close inspection of the DIMUL Misti Dahi (curd/yoghurt) that was distributed on 29 March, 2013 had no mention of the “manufacture” date printed on the lid of the cup. “What was mentioned on the cup of Misti Dahi were the words ‘Use by date: 03 April’. It is also clearly printed on the cup that the product should be STORE[D]CONTINOUSLY UNDER REFRIGERATION BELOW 80C UNTIL ‘USE BY DATE’. This ‘Use by date’ which was mistaken by the Citizen Journalist as manufacturing date is 03 April,” the statement clarifies.
DIMUL has also termed “defamatory and totally unacceptable” the allegation that “DIMUL had deferred the manufacturing date by 4-6 days.” According to its press note, “The shelf life of our Misti Dahi product is 7 days from the date of manufacture, and ‘Use by Date’ is more or less equivalent to Expiry Date of the product in question.” In this, DIMUL has informed readers of the food packaging norms and guidelines of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
“In July 2012, we received labelling guidelines from NDDB for Mishti Dahi packaging and labelling. Among other points, we were directed to replace Date of Manufacture with ‘Use by date’ and include nutritional information of the product besides inserting Customer care number in the labeling,” stated the CEO of DIMUL. In this, the CEO has asked customers to contact DIMUL’s customer care for clarifications instead of distributors.
