FSSAI Chief Backs Tukaram Mundhe’s FDA Crackdown
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India CEO Rajit Punhani has publicly backed Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s aggressive drive against food safety violations, saying stronger enforcement demonstrates what can be achieved when regulators give the sector sustained attention.
FSSAI Chief Backs Tukaram Mundhe’s Food Crackdown
Punhani praised the Maharashtra FDA’s intensified inspections under Mundhe, who took charge of the department in May 2026.
The state regulator has carried out thousands of inspections targeting restaurants, food businesses, warehouses, dairy operators and other establishments over alleged violations of food safety and hygiene requirements.
Punhani said food safety departments had historically not always received adequate administrative attention and argued that every state should have a dedicated food safety commissioner.
Maharashtra FDA Steps Up Food Safety Enforcement
Mundhe’s tenure has been marked by stricter inspections, improvement notices and licence suspensions where officials allege serious non-compliance.
The crackdown has covered multiple sections of Maharashtra’s food supply chain, increasing pressure on businesses to strengthen hygiene practices, storage standards, sourcing controls and regulatory documentation.
FSSAI’s support indicates that stronger on-ground enforcement could increasingly become an important part of food regulation across India.
Bombay High Court Questions Some FDA Actions
The Maharashtra FDA’s approach has also faced judicial scrutiny.
The Bombay High Court recently questioned whether enforcement action in some cases had been disproportionate, criticising what it considered excessive haste in suspending or cancelling licences without sufficient adherence to due process.
The Maharashtra government has separately granted loose edible oil traders one year to comply with existing regulations after concerns were raised about the immediate impact of enforcement.
The developments highlight the challenge of maintaining strict food safety standards while ensuring regulatory action remains proportionate and legally sound.
