1 week ago
Maharashtra Food Crackdown Wins Praise, Draws Court Challenges
Tukaram Mundhe is a government official in charge of food safety in Maharashtra.
Since he started this job, inspectors have visited restaurants, bakeries and grocery warehouses without warning.
They found problems such as cockroaches, rats, fungus, expired food and uncovered products.
Some businesses were temporarily closed until they fixed the problems.
Many customers like this because they feel safer eating outside.
Some food businesses agree that cleaner practices are needed but say the closures happened too quickly.
The law usually allows businesses time to improve, although it also permits immediate closures when public health may be at risk.
A court criticized the FDA in one case, while officials said they were following the law.
Since taking charge in May, Tukaram Mundhe has ordered more surprise inspections and immediate suspensions for serious food-safety violations.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration temporarily shut outlets including Domino’s, Pizza Hut, K Rustom, Parsi Dairy, Shalimar and Rehmania.
Inspections of 86 quick-commerce dark stores led to 60 improvement notices and 14 licence suspensions.
Food businesses and their association say immediate suspensions can bypass improvement notices and standard procedures.
Consumers and some business owners say the campaign has improved hygiene, while the Bombay High Court criticized the FDA for going “overboard” in one case.
- Who
- Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration commissioner, along with FDA inspectors, food businesses and consumers.
- What
- A statewide crackdown on unhygienic conditions and food-safety violations at eateries, bakeries and quick-commerce dark stores.
- Where
- Across Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai and Pune, with related scrutiny reported in Karnataka.
- When
- Since Mundhe took charge in May; major inspections and suspensions occurred during the following three months, including August.
- Why
- To protect public health and prevent customers from being exposed to unsafe food and unsanitary conditions.
FDA and public-health supporters
Food businesses and critics
Immediate licence suspensions
FDA and public-health supporters
FDA officials say the law permits immediate suspension when inspectors find severe or multiple violations that could directly harm customers. They say minor violations generally receive improvement notices.
Food businesses and critics
Restaurant and bakery representatives say immediate suspensions may bypass the usual improvement-notice and show-cause process, imposing closures before operators have enough time to correct problems.
Whether the crackdown is excessive
FDA and public-health supporters
Supporters, including consumers and some former FDA officials, say strict enforcement is necessary because unhygienic kitchens could cause food poisoning and because the campaign has improved practices.
Food businesses and critics
Some businesses and the Bombay High Court have questioned whether the FDA has gone too far. The court said the administration was “going overboard” in a Pune case where the shop reportedly had 98% hygiene compliance.
Industry response
FDA and public-health supporters
Some food operators acknowledge that the inspections have encouraged better practices, such as using food-grade paper instead of newspapers and improving pest control.
Food businesses and critics
Business owners say pests are difficult to eliminate because of conditions such as open drains, and that blanket action over hygiene lapses can threaten small operators.
Key facts
- Official involved
- Tukaram Mundhe, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration commissioner
- Dark stores inspected
- 86 quick-commerce facilities
- Dark-store notices
- 60 improvement notices and 14 licence suspensions
- Businesses affected
- Domino’s, Pizza Hut, K Rustom, Parsi Dairy, Shalimar, Rehmania and other food outlets
- Common violations
- Cockroaches, rats, lizards, fungus, expired products, pests and uncovered food
- Court action
- The Bombay High Court ordered a Rs 5 lakh fine against the FDA in one Pune sweet-shop case
- Legal framework
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 allows improvement notices and, in public-health cases, immediate licence suspension
Quotes
Omprakash Sadhwani
Retired joint commissioner of drugs in the food and drug administration
“"If there are observations made by the HC, we take it seriously. At the same time we make sure to follow the law. We are not exceeding our jurisdiction, we are following due process."”
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“"He is not afraid to go after big influential players."”
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B Shami
Owner of Crown Bakery, Mumbai
“"Mumbai city’s hygiene levels are questionable. We have open drains that allow rats everywhere. No baker wants to have a filthy kitchen."”
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Sources
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