MUMBAI: Mumbai food safety crackdown led by Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe is shaking up the city’s food industry, with thousands of inspections exposing hygiene violations and prompting businesses to improve standards.
Since taking charge as Maharashtra’s food safety chief in May, the 51-year-old bureaucrat has overseen more than 3,000 raids targeting restaurants, hotels, street-food vendors, cricket clubs and major international food chains.
The campaign has led to the suspension of food permits at four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut restaurant. A McDonald’s outlet also had its permit suspended after inspectors reported finding cockroaches and rotting food.
Mumbai Food Safety Crackdown Targets Hygiene Violations
Mundhe has adopted a strict enforcement approach, arguing that regulators are responsible for protecting public health.
“You are dealing with the lives of people,” he told the media.
Images released following inspections have attracted widespread attention online, showing violations including rats, cockroaches, stained premises and expired food.
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Government figures cited by the media show Indian inspectors have examined more than 100,000 food samples annually since 2020, with around 20 percent found unsafe, substandard or improperly labelled. Nearly 8,000 food business licences have been cancelled over the past three years.
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One vendor replaced artificial red colouring with natural chilli, while another began changing frying oil three times daily and requiring workers to wear gloves and head coverings.
Even Mumbai’s famous vada pav vendors have faced tighter scrutiny. Mundhe prohibited the use of newspapers for wrapping food in June, encouraging sellers to switch to cleaner packaging materials.
The commissioner’s aggressive enforcement has earned him widespread public support and growing celebrity status, but some businesses have accused his department of being overzealous.
Several operators have approached the courts, arguing that businesses should be given sufficient time to correct violations. In one case, judges fined Mundhe’s department 500,000 rupees over the continued suspension of an establishment despite improved compliance.
Mundhe said his department takes court observations seriously and would improve its approach where necessary.
Despite the criticism, the Mumbai food safety crackdown continues to put pressure on businesses to meet hygiene requirements, while Mundhe insists he is simply performing his regulatory duties.
