{
  "id": 5964246,
  "title": "‘Regulates food safety, not festivals’: FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe clarifies new order",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/regulates-food-safety-not-festivals-fda-chief-tukaram-mundhe",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-06T10:53:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/regulates-food-safety-not-festivals-fda-chief-tukaram-mundhe-clarifies-new-order/articleshow/133834065.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has clarified that the state's new festival food-safety directive is focused on preventing food contamination during public celebrations, not on regulating how festivals are observed. The directive applies to all festivals and gatherings, including weddings, religious observances and community events, and is intended to ensure food served at these occasions is safe and compliant with existing laws, Mundhe told the news agency PTI. The order, which has been in place since 2011, does not introduce new restrictions on religious or cultural practices or impose a new licensing regime for Food Business Operators. Mundhe emphasized that the goal is to maintain consistent food-safety standards across all communities and events, reducing ambiguity and ensuring all involved understand their roles and responsibilities.",
  "summary": "Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe clarified a new food safety directive. This order aims to monitor and prevent food adulteration across all festivals. It ensures food served at gatherings is safe and compliant with existing laws. The directive establishes a year-round framework for consistent implementation. This aims to prevent illness while allowing celebrations to continue.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘If there’s a will, there's a way': FSSAI CEO praises Maharashtra FDA's Tukaram Mundhe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/if-theres-a-will-theres-a-way-fssai-ceo-praises-maharashtra-fdas",
        "published": "2026-09-02T09:40:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Tukaram Mundhe's FDA action: Maggi, Lay’s, Kurkure packs found with fake expiry dates in Mumbai were meant for export",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/tukaram-mundhes-fda-action-maggi-lays-kurkure-packs-found-with-fake",
        "published": "2026-09-02T11:14:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Tukaram Mundhe crackdown | Who will FDA target next? Maharashtra food safety body rolls out calendar for festivals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/tukaram-mundhe-crackdown-who-will-fda-target-next-maharashtra-food",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:00:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "FDA awaits replies from restaurants at MCA premises: Tukaram Mundhe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/fda-awaits-replies-from-restaurants-at-mca-premises-tukaram-mundhe",
        "published": "2026-09-06T07:40:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}