‘Honest businesses have nothing to fear’: New FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe
Mundhe said the FDA enforcement drive is not based on random raids but part of a structured plan.
Tukaram Mundhe said the FDA's enforcement drive is not based on random raids but part of a structured plan. (File Photo) Within days of taking charge as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, Tukaram Mundhe — known for his strict anti-corruption approach and now on his 25th transfer in his bureaucratic career — has launched a statewide crackdown on food adulteration and unsafe food production.
Emphasising public health and accountability, the Commissioner said the guiding principle of the campaign is: “Safe Food, Safe Drugs, Safe Maharashtra.”
“To further strengthen citizen participation and improve transparency, FDA will soon launch a toll-free helpline number and a mobile app through which people can directly register complaints and grievances related to food and drug safety,” the 2005-batch IAS officer told The Indian Express.
Mundhe said the enforcement drive is not based on random raids but part of a structured plan.
“This is part of a systematic and focused enforcement plan. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring ease of doing business for compliant operators. Honest businesses have nothing to fear, but those violating the law will find no place to hide and will face strict prosecution,” he said.
Alongside enforcement, FDA will also undertake Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to raise awareness about safe and unsafe food products and help consumers make informed choices, he added.
Mundhe, who describes his service as committed to ethical governance on his social media profiles, said he views his current posting as an opportunity for public service rather than a setback to his seniority.
“Corruption is non-negotiable for me, and integrity is the core expectation from an IAS officer,” he said.
Meanwhile, FDA teams have conducted raids across Maharashtra, seizing large quantities of adulterated and unsafe food products. Between May 25 and May 27, 27 units were sealed as part of a special enforcement drive, and goods worth over Rs 20 lakh were confiscated. FIRs have also been registered in several cases.
The crackdown targeted fake milk production units, artificially ripened mangoes, unsafe paneer manufacturing, illegal gutkha and tobacco sales, mislabelled edible oil, and unhygienic ice cream production units.
In Pune, two units were inspected and stock worth over Rs 2 lakh was seized. The highest number of inspections was carried out in Greater Mumbai (19 units) and the Konkan region (10 units), where seizures worth over Rs 9 lakh and Rs 6 lakh, respectively, were made.
Mundhe said strict legal action will continue against all violators compromising public health and food safety.
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