MUMBAI: “I do not assume I am a star. I am only a meals security commissioner,” Tukaram Mundhe informed Reuters as his crackdown on unhygienic meals companies throughout Mumbai has struck a chord with the general public.Since taking cost as Maharashtra’s meals security chief in Might, Mundhe’s groups have carried out greater than 3,000 raids, suspended permits at a number of shops of main meals chains and uncovered alleged violations starting from poor hygiene to expired meals and pest infestations.
A crackdown
Mundhe’s groups have focused main meals chains in addition to native eating places, roadside distributors, resorts and long-established institutions.The commissioner has led the suspension of permits at 4 Domino’s and one Pizza Hut outlet in latest weeks.When a Mumbai choose questioned whether or not Mundhe’s division was selectively concentrating on non-public companies and requested whether or not court docket canteens had been inspected, his groups carried out inspections there inside hours and shut some working with out licences.“Those that attempt to not comply, they’ll face what is predicted from the regulator,” Mundhe mentioned in an interview with Reuters.“You might be coping with the lives of individuals.”
Rats, cockroaches and expired meals
Photographs launched after the raids have proven alleged violations together with stained partitions, cockroaches, rats and expired meals at eateries and food-storage services.“It was stunning. I didn’t count on these many violations,” Mundhe informed Reuters.Reuters visits to 25 road distributors and eating places in Mumbai discovered that some companies had modified their practices amid heightened scrutiny.One vendor had changed synthetic purple dye with pure chilli, whereas one other had began altering its frying oil 3 times a day and requiring employees to put on gloves and head caps.Mundhe has additionally prohibited using newspapers to wrap Mumbai’s common vada pav, citing meals security issues.
‘Giving folks hope’
Mundhe’s actions have earned him a following amongst members of the general public annoyed by longstanding issues about meals hygiene.“Everybody has tried to normalise this for years by saying it occurs in India. It is mainly bottled-up anger,” mentioned Ankur Bisen, a associate at shopper consulting agency The Data Firm.“I’ve by no means seen anybody like Mundhe. It is giving folks hope.”However companies have accused his division of being heavy-handed, with some approaching the Excessive Courtroom.In a single case, judges fined the division Rs 5 lakh for persevering with to droop an eatery after it had improved its compliance.“If there are observations by the court docket, we take it severely. If there may be scope for enchancment, we enhance,” Mundhe informed Reuters.
Why the FDA is concentrating on unfastened edible oil’
The meals security drive has now expanded to the sale of unfastened edible oil, prompting concern amongst conventional merchants and small retailers.The Maharashtra Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) says the transfer is just not a brand new restriction however an enforcement of meals security provisions which have been in drive since 2011.The FDA mentioned edible oil offered on to shoppers should be equipped in sealed, tamper-evident and correctly labelled packaging beneath current meals security rules.Mundhe mentioned the requirement was meant to make companies accountable and permit shoppers to hint the supply, batch and age of the oil.The division mentioned oil offered instantly from drums, tanks, cans or tankers into containers introduced by clients, or transferred into smaller containers after the unique seal is damaged, falls beneath unfastened or unauthorised repacking.Bulk motion of edible oil by licensed companies for manufacturing or transportation is allowed beneath prescribed guidelines, the FDA mentioned.However oil offered to the ultimate shopper should be in sealed and labelled packaging.
FDA warns of adulteration
The division mentioned unfastened oil usually lacks details about the producer, packer, batch quantity, date and supply.That makes it tough to hint the product or set up accountability if a shopper falls ailing or a meals security drawback is detected.The FDA additionally warned that unfastened gross sales could make adulteration simpler, together with mixing cheaper oil with costly varieties or promoting one sort of oil as one other.It mentioned publicity to air, warmth and lightweight may improve the danger of oxidation and rancidity, whereas unclean or reused containers may introduce mud, water, bugs, metallic particles or chemical residues into the oil.The absence of producing, packing and ‘Finest Earlier than’ dates additionally makes it tough to find out the age of the product, the division mentioned.
Merchants elevate concern
The crackdown has triggered concern amongst conventional oil merchants and small retailers who worry that necessary packaging may improve prices and have an effect on their companies.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis mentioned the FDA could be requested to organize normal working procedures to forestall adulteration with out crippling the companies of conventional oil merchants and small retailers.The FDA mentioned shoppers would nonetheless be capable to purchase oil in small portions by means of packaged merchandise.It pointed to 200 ml, 500 ml and one-litre packs, notably pouches, which it described as among the many least costly packaging choices.
Rule has been in place for years
The FDA mentioned Maharashtra had beforehand allowed momentary exemptions for the sale of unfastened edible oil.The final such extension led to 2020 and didn’t quantity to everlasting permission, it mentioned.After the exemption expired, meals companies had been required to adjust to the unique restriction beneath Regulation 2.3.15.The division mentioned the availability was launched as a meals security measure following critical incidents similar to epidemic dropsy.It mentioned packaging and labelling had been needed to forestall adulteration, set up producer accountability, hint batches and allow remembers.
Greater than Rs 5 crore price of oil seized
The FDA collected 1,247 edible oil samples throughout Maharashtra throughout 2025-26.Of those, 1,142 met prescribed requirements, whereas 77 had been discovered substandard, 13 unsafe and 15 misbranded.The division additionally seized 3,20,781 kg of edible oil price round Rs 5.31 crore.In Beed district alone, unfastened edible oil price about Rs 1.94 crore was confiscated.The FDA mentioned the principles apply throughout India and cited an FSSAI particular drive in August 2022, when greater than 27,500 litres of unfastened edible oil had been seized throughout states and Union territories.
