Mumbai’s food scene meets its new viral raid master

Mumbai's food scene has been shaken by the relentless efforts of state food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who has launched an unprecedented crackdown on poor hygiene and unsafe food. In just a few months since assuming his role as Maharashtra's food safety chief in May, Mundhe has led the suspension of food permits for four Domino's and one Pizza Hut outlet, as well as inspections of cricket clubs, hotels, and renowned restaurants in over 3,000 raids.

His no-nonsense approach has garnered widespread admiration from the public, who have become frustrated with the consistent quality issues plaguing local eateries and street food vendors. In the past year alone, Indian food inspectors have checked over 100,000 food samples, finding roughly 20% to be unsafe, substandard, or lacking proper labels. Nearly 8,000 food business licenses have been cancelled during this period.

Mundhe's unconventional operating style has made headlines, with TV interviews where he declares that nobody can bribe him and that he is not afraid of administrative action. His team's actions have gone viral, with detailed images of eateries and grocery warehouses showing stained walls, crawling cockroaches, rats, and expired food.

The crackdown has been met with mixed reactions, with some businesses facing criticism for not having enough time to adapt. Mundhe has faced opposition from those who argue that businesses should be given more time to improve their compliance. Despite the criticism, Mundhe remains steadfast in his commitment to ensuring food safety, stating that if there are observations by the court, his department will take it seriously and make improvements as needed.