인도 ‘위생 저승사자’에 환호…맥도날드도 법원식당도 문 닫았다

A McDonald's restaurant in Mumbai, India, has gained notoriety due to lax sanitary standards. The restaurant's owner, Tukaram Mundhe, was promoted to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in May and has been conducting 3,000 inspections of food establishments, including restaurants, hotels, and food warehouses. Recently, Mundhe has halted the operations of 4 Domino's Pizza and 1 Pizza Hut outlets in Mumbai due to sanitary violations.

Last June, he banned street vendors from selling "bada pava," a popular Mumbai street food wrapped in oily paper. Mundhe is known for his aggressive approach, often releasing detailed reports and photos of the inspections. His work has generated mixed reactions; while supporters praise his dedication, critics argue that his methods clash with the existing administrative structure.

Despite the controversy, Mundhe's relentless inspections have addressed long-standing concerns about food hygiene in India. According to Indian government data, out of the 100,000 food samples tested since 2020, around 20% were found unsafe or non-compliant. The number of canceled food business licenses has reached approximately 8,000 in the past three years.

A food consultant at Deloitte, Ankur Sinha, noted that Mundhe's approach has given people hope for change. Following the crackdown, 25 street food stalls and restaurants in Mumbai have made improvements, such as switching synthetic food dyes to natural ones, replacing cooking oil daily, and requiring employees to wear gloves and headgear.

However, some businesses have criticized the excessive scrutiny, leading one restaurant to sue Mundhe's department for withholding its previous operational license. Mundhe remains unfazed by the attention, stating, "I don't consider myself a celebrity. I'm just a food safety officer."