Maharashtra FDA Resolves 72% Of 13,857 Complaints In 3 Months, Issues 4,068 Notices Over Delays

Mumbai: Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tackled 72% of the 13,857 complaints received through its online portal in the three months since its inception, issuing 4,068 notices due to delays in addressing grievances, according to Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The regulator's launch of the portal on July 14 aimed to enable citizens to report food safety and drug-related violations, with the system automatically escalating complaints to senior officials if they were not handled within a set timeframe.

The FDA processed 9,955 complaints, with 2,869 under investigation and 1,033 awaiting investigation. The average resolution time was 18.9 days, slightly longer than the median 15.1 days. Complaints have transitioned from primarily targeting hotels and restaurants to also addressing quick-commerce platforms, potentially reflecting improved compliance following enforcement actions, though the shift alone doesn't confirm enhanced food safety measures.

Nashik witnessed an increase in complaints during festive seasons like Ganeshotsav and the August 15 holiday, underscoring the need for heightened monitoring of food businesses during periods of heightened consumer activity. Of the received complaints, 93.9% related to food, with 10,452 classified as high or critical severity. Nashik, Pune, and Greater Mumbai divisions recorded the highest numbers of complaints. Unresolved complaints, totaling 11,491, were excluded from the initial count.