Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Cracks Down on Food Safety Violations
Tukaram Mundhe is the boss of Maharashtra’s food safety agency.
He started a big campaign to stop restaurants, dairies, and other food places from breaking rules.
He has inspected more than 600 places, stopped about 60 licences, and told others to fix problems.
He also fights illegal gutkha and limits junk food near schools.
Some people say he acts too fast, but he says the law lets him stop unsafe food right away.
He also says no business that breaks the law will be left alone.
He wants everyone to follow the rules to keep people healthy.
Tukaram Mundhe, 51, has led a major food safety crackdown in Maharashtra since taking charge as FDA Commissioner two months ago.
Over 600 hotels and restaurants were inspected; about 60 licences were suspended and 150 received improvement notices, with most establishments found compliant.
The FDA targeted high‑risk sectors such as hotels, eateries, and dairy products, seized gutkha, reduced synthetic milk, and banned HFSS foods within 50 metres of schools.
Critics claim the FDA suspends licences without show‑cause notices; Mundhe says the law allows immediate suspension for unsafe food.
The FDA has faced staff complaints about extended hours, and has launched an online grievance portal that has already received 1,600 complaints.
- Who
- Tukaram Mundhe, FDA Commissioner of Maharashtra
- What
- Crackdown on food safety violations and enforcement actions
- When
- July 2026 (two‑month tenure)
- Where
- Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To protect public health and enforce food safety laws
- Commissioner
- Tukaram Mundhe
- Tenure
- Two months (since May 2026)
- Inspections
- Over 600 establishments
- Licences suspended
- About 60
- Improvement notices
- 150
- High‑risk sectors
- Hotels, eateries, milk/dairy
- HFSS ban radius
- 50 metres around schools
- Gutkha crackdown
- Seizures and MCOCA action