Know These Details Before Buying Groceries Online

Ordering groceries and essential products through online apps and websites has become common in the digital age. However, consumers are concerned that “Best Before” and expiry dates are not clearly displayed while they shop. As a result, buyers may not know how much shelf life remains until the product is delivered, prompting complaints about receiving items nearing expiry. A LocalCircles survey of nearly 20,000 online consumers across India found that 39% could not find expiry-date information on most of the grocery apps or websites they used. Only 27% said the details were available across all the platforms they used, while 33% said they could not find the dates on any of them.

Some brands and e-commerce platforms reportedly state only that a product can be used for “six months from the date of manufacture” without clearly displaying the manufacturing date. This makes it difficult for consumers to determine how much shelf life remains. The report notes that displaying only the shelf-life duration, without the manufacturing date, may leave buyers without essential information. Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, as amended in 2017, online platforms are required to display key product details digitally before a purchase is made, including the “Best Before” or “Use By” date. These requirements apply to third-party e-commerce marketplaces as well as brands’ own websites.

The report also highlights efforts to strengthen consumer protection and improve disclosure of expiry information. Under FSSAI requirements, packaged food delivered through online platforms must have at least 30% of its shelf life remaining or at least 45 days before expiry. Clear display of these dates before checkout can help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and understand the remaining shelf life of the products they order.