'3,000 raids, rats, cockroaches': How FDA chief is giving eateries a wake-up call
Tukaram Mundhe leads Maharashtra's aggressive food safety crackdown, inspecting thousands of food businesses. His teams have conducted over 3,000 raids, suspending permits and uncovering numerous violations. The campaign now targets loose edible oil sales, enforcing regulations from 2011. Traders express concern over mandatory packaging, while the FDA cites adulteration risks. The FDA seized over…
Mumbai's food safety commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, has been cracking down on unhygienic food businesses across the city, leading to over 3,000 raids and the discovery of numerous health hazards. His efforts have targeted major food chains as well as local restaurants, roadside vendors, hotels, and long-established establishments.
Mundhe has suspended permits at several outlets of major food chains, including four Domino's and one Pizza Hut. His inspections have uncovered issues such as poor hygiene, expired food, and pest infestations, with images showing stained walls, cockroaches, and rats.
Public support for Mundhe's actions has grown as people express frustration over longstanding concerns about food hygiene. However, businesses have criticized his department for being heavy-handed, with some approaching the high court. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now expanded its focus to the sale of loose edible oil, aiming to enforce food safety provisions that have been in place since 2011.
The FDA argues that loose oil often lacks important information, making it difficult to trace and potentially leading to adulteration. This crackdown has raised concerns among traditional oil traders and small retailers who worry about increased costs and the impact on their businesses.
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