Quick commerce, slow compliance: Expiry dates missing on many grocery items on online apps, finds survey

A new survey by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles has found that nearly one in two Indian consumers shopping for groceries online are still unable to view the “best before” date of packaged food products before making a purchase, highlighting persistent compliance gaps among major quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms.

According to the survey, 48% of respondents said they could not find expiry-date information on most online grocery platforms, despite regulations requiring such disclosures at the point of sale. The findings come at a time when quick-commerce companies are aggressively expanding their operations and promising deliveries within minutes.

The survey, based on responses from over 17,000 consumers across 164 districts, revealed that 35% of respondents were unable to find expiry information on any online grocery platform, while another 13% said such details were available only on a limited number of apps or websites.

Among the platforms reviewed, LocalCircles found that quick-commerce players such as Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, JioMart and Milkbasket do not consistently display “best before” dates for packaged food products. In contrast, Amazon Now, Flipkart Minutes and BigBasket were found to be compliant with disclosure requirements.

The issue has gained prominence amid growing consumer complaints about receiving products nearing their expiry dates, particularly in categories with shorter shelf lives. LocalCircles noted that bread remains one of the most frequently reported examples, with customers often receiving loaves that have only one or two days of shelf life remaining despite the product typically carrying a shelf life of five to seven days.

Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2018, e-commerce platforms are required to display key product information, including “best before” or “use by” dates specifying the day, month and year, for packaged food products listed for sale online.

However, LocalCircles said enforcement has remained limited. While food products fall under the jurisdiction of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the regulator has primarily focused on ensuring that products sold online have at least 30 per cent shelf life remaining or a minimum of 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery. The survey noted that FSSAI has not issued any specific directions requiring platforms to display best-before dates online.

The report indicates some improvement from 2024, when 57% of respondents said they were unable to find expiry-date information on online grocery platforms. Despite the decline, nearly half of consumers continue to face challenges accessing such information before making purchasing decisions.