Letter to editor. / NIA

June 28, 2026

To the Executive Leadership of Haldiram Foods and Fellow Consumers:

This Consumer Advisory is intended to alert consumers to a concerning experience involving a Haldiram snack product purchased from an Indian grocery store in Minnesota.

My purpose is not to accuse any individual or company of wrongdoing or to create unnecessary alarm. Rather, it is to encourage transparency, protect consumers, and request a thorough investigation until the facts are fully established.

The Product: My family purchased a sealed packet of Haldiram Farali Chiwda (Export Pack) from an Indian grocery store in Minnesota.

Upon opening the package, we noticed a rancid oil odor and stale taste. After consuming the snack, my family members experienced stomach discomfort.

The package was labeled as follows:

• Product: Farali Chiwda (Export Pack)

• Batch: STDX69 (H)

• Manufacturing Date: 28 August 2025

• Expiration Date: 27 August 2027

     

 

Because the product appeared spoiled despite being well within its printed expiration date, I contacted both Haldiram Foods and one of its U.S. distribution partners on June 13.

Timeline

June 14, 2026:  A representative of X'Pressions / Greet Well Inc. (responding from xpressionsgwi@gmail.com) replied:

"Our products never have 2 years shelf life."

The representative further suggested that the package may have been tampered with and requested photographs of the package and the purchase receipt to identify its source.

June 19, 2026: Called Greet Well Inc. and spoke with the individual who had written the email, but have not heard back since.

June 20, 2026: Haldiram Customer Care (customercare@haldiram.com) responded that the batch number printed on the package does not match its manufacturing records. The company also stated that it has discontinued exporting Farali Chiwda.

These two responses appear to be inconsistent and raise significant questions regarding the authenticity and traceability of the product.

June 21, 2026: I spoke with the owner of a local Indian grocery store for approximately 51 minutes. He assured me that he would discuss the matter with the Midwest distributor and provide a response. As of the date of this advisory, no response has been received.

Following my initial communications, I visited an Indian grocery store in Minnesota and observed multiple Haldiram snack products displaying similar two-year and other expiration periods. While this observation alone does not establish that these products are counterfeit or unsafe, it reinforces the need for a prompt and independent investigation.

 

Important Questions: Consumers deserve clear and transparent answers.

• Are counterfeit or unauthorized Haldiram products entering the U.S. supply chain?

• Are consumers purchasing products that cannot be traced back to Haldiram's manufacturing facilities?

• If the batch number does not exist, how did this product reach a retail shelf?

• Are distributors and retailers receiving products from unauthorized sources?

• How widespread might this issue be within the United States?

Haldiram Foods: I respectfully request that Haldiram Foods:

1. Conduct an immediate investigation into this product and its distribution chain.

2. Audit importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers handling Haldiram products in the United States.

3. Publicly clarify the expected shelf life of exported Haldiram snack products.

4. Explain how consumers can distinguish genuine Haldiram products from counterfeit or unauthorized products.

5. Inform consumers whether additional products displaying similar labeling should be examined.

6. Cooperate fully with U.S. distributors and regulatory agencies if a recall or broader market investigation becomes necessary.

7. Publicly communicate the findings of its investigation.

Regulatory Action: Because this matter concerns food authenticity, labeling, and consumer safety, I intend to submit formal complaints to the appropriate Minnesota and federal consumer protection and food safety agencies, requesting an independent investigation.

Advice to Consumers: If you have purchased Haldiram products with unusually long expiration periods or have experienced similar quality concerns, I encourage you to:

• Retain the product packaging.

• Keep your purchase receipt.

• Photograph the batch number, manufacturing date, expiration date, importer information, and barcode.

• Report your experience to the appropriate consumer protection and food safety authorities.

• Contact Haldiram Customer Care and the U.S. distributor so your experience may assist in any investigation.

Closing: Haldiram has earned the trust of millions of consumers, including my own, over many decades. That reputation deserves to be protected through transparency, accountability, and prompt action whenever legitimate consumer concerns arise.

If the product we purchased is counterfeit, consumers deserve to know, and the distribution chain should be secured. If the product is genuine, consumers deserve a clear explanation regarding its labeling, traceability, and quality.

I respectfully request that Haldiram Foods investigate this matter thoroughly and communicate its findings publicly. Doing so will help restore confidence among consumers and demonstrate the company's continued commitment to food safety and product integrity.

Consumer trust is earned through openness and accountability. I hope this advisory contributes to a timely resolution that benefits both consumers and Haldiram Foods.

Respectfully,

Vijendra Agarwal
Minnesota, USA

NOTE ADDED: Although I was assured on June 21 that the store is removing the snack in question (Farari Chiwda), when I returned to the store this evening after submitting the article, that store had about 20 packets of that snack on the shelf. At least several had the same batch number. It further raises questions about why the packets from that very batch are still on the shelf being sold.