Hack of the day: Verify barcodes and FSSAI claims before buying

"The Times of India' brings you 'Hack of the Day'—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it's simple fixes for smarter living."Counterfeit food products and misleading “organic” or “health” claims are becoming increasingly common in retail. Many of these items use expired FSSAI licences or fake certifications to appear legitimate.

By verifying barcodes and FSSAI claims before purchase, consumers can protect themselves from unsafe or fraudulent products.

The Solution: Smart consumer app

The Smart Consumer app, developed by GS1 India, connects directly to the official DataKart registration database. This allows shoppers to instantly check whether a product’s barcode and FSSAI licence are genuine.

How to do it

A word of caution

Some very small-scale local products may not appear in the GS1/DataKart database if they don’t hold an FSSAI licence. In such cases, exercise extra caution before purchase.