S Panchanathan Stores
In this article7 parts
Quick answer
Before you buy a packed food, check four things: the FSSAI logo and licence number, the best before or use by date, the MRP and net quantity, and the ingredients list.
- Ingredients are listed from most to least, so the first one is the main thing in the pack.
- “Use by” is about safety; “best before” is about taste and quality.
- No shop may charge more than the MRP.
Every packed food sold in India has to carry certain details by law, under the FSSAI labelling rules and the Legal Metrology rules for packaged goods. Once you know where to look, it takes ten seconds to check a pack.
What must a food label show?
Roasted Rava · 500 g
INGREDIENTS
NUTRITION per 100 gEnergy348 kcalProtein10.4 gCarbs73 gFat1 g
CONTAINS: WHEAT
NET QTY500 g
MRP ₹60incl. of all taxes · ₹12 per 100 g
PKD 09/2026Best before 6 months
fssaiLic. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
Packed by: …, Tamil Nadu · Customer care 1800 …
Hover or tap a number to see what it means. An example pack drawn by us; real packs put these in different places.
All 10 parts explained
- 1FSSAI logo and licence number
A 14-digit number: the maker is licensed by the food safety authority.
- 2Veg or non-veg mark
Green dot in a green square for vegetarian; brown triangle in a brown square for non-vegetarian.
- 3Name of the food
What it actually is, not just the brand name.
- 4Ingredients
Everything inside, from the largest amount to the smallest.
- 5Allergens
Milk, nuts, wheat, soy and others that some people must avoid.
- 6Nutrition facts
Energy, protein, carbohydrate, sugar, fat and salt per 100 g, and per serving.
- 7Net quantity
How much food is inside, without the packing.
- 8MRP and unit sale price
The highest price including all taxes, and the price per kg, litre or 100 g.
- 9Dates
Date of manufacture or packing, and best before or use by.
- 10Maker and customer care
Who made or packed it and how to reach them; for imported food, the importer and country of origin.
What is the difference between best before and use by?
Use byalso "expiry"
or- About safety
- Milk products, ready-to-eat food
- Do not eat after this date
Best beforeabout quality
- About taste and crispness
- Biscuits, rice, dals, dry fruits
- Often fine a little after, if stored well
We never sell food past its use by date.
How do you read the ingredients list?
1stingredient is the biggest part of the food
%is shown for the ingredient the food is named after
6+names for sugar to look out for
A “honey biscuit” with sugar and maida first and honey near the end has very little honey.
Sugar has many names
Sugar, glucose, liquid glucose, invert syrup, maltodextrin and jaggery are all sugars. Several of them high in the list means a sweet product.
How do you compare two packs by price?
₹92.50per 100 g: a 200 g pack at ₹185
₹107.60per 100 g: a 250 g pack at ₹269
Look for the unit sale price (per kg, per litre or per 100 g) near the MRP: the bigger pack is not always cheaper. The MRP is the highest price; shops can sell for less, and on our site the price you pay is shown next to the MRP.
What should make you put a pack back?
Check
- A 14-digit FSSAI number is printed
- The dates are clear and printed on the pack itself
- The seal is whole and the pack is dry
Put it back if
- The date is smudged, scratched or on a sticker over the old one
- The pack is swollen, leaking or torn
- The use by date has passed
Where can you complain about a wrong label?
Start with the customer care number on the pack. You can also use FSSAI’s Food Safety Connect app, or call the National Consumer Helpline on 1915. If you bought it from us, tell us here and we will take it up with the supplier.
Questions people ask
How do I check if an FSSAI licence number is real?
Type the 14-digit number into the search on FSSAI’s FoSCoS website. It shows the business name and whether the licence is valid.
Can a shop sell above MRP?
No. The MRP already includes all taxes, and no shop may charge more than it. Selling below MRP is allowed.
Is food safe one day after the best before date?
Usually yes, if the pack is sealed and was kept dry and cool; it may just be less fresh. Use by dates are different: do not eat food after its use by date.
What does the brown triangle on a pack mean?
It means the food is non-vegetarian. A green dot in a green square means vegetarian.
