Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra’s food safety commissioner, has emerged as an unlikely public figure in India after leading an extensive crackdown on poor hygiene and unsafe food practices in Mumbai.
The 51-year-old bureaucrat has overseen thousands of inspections since taking charge of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s food safety operations in May. His teams have targeted a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, cricket clubs, pizza outlets and food warehouses.
In recent weeks, authorities have suspended the food permits of four pizza outlets as part of the campaign.
Mundhe has adopted a direct approach, arguing that food safety regulations are ultimately about protecting people’s health.
“You are dealing with the lives of people,” he told Reuters, defending his strict approach towards businesses that fail to comply with regulations.
Court Canteens Also Face Inspections
Mundhe’s approach has attracted attention beyond restaurants and street vendors.
When a Mumbai judge questioned whether the food safety department was selectively targeting private businesses and asked whether court canteens were also being inspected, Mundhe’s teams reportedly carried out inspections there within hours.
Some of the inspected canteens were subsequently shut down because they were allegedly operating without the required licences.
The episode has reinforced Mundhe’s reputation for applying food safety rules across different types of establishments rather than limiting inspections to commercial restaurants.
Raids Reveal Poor Hygiene Conditions
Images released following the inspections have played a major role in turning the campaign into a social media phenomenon.
The food safety department has publicly shared images showing conditions inside some eateries and food storage facilities, including stained walls, cockroaches, rats and expired food products.
Mundhe said he was surprised by the extent of some of the violations discovered during inspections.
The campaign comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns about food hygiene in India. Government data cited by Reuters shows that food inspectors have tested more than 100,000 samples each year since 2020, with roughly one in five found to be unsafe, substandard or improperly labelled.
Nearly 8,000 food business licences have also reportedly been cancelled over the past three years.
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Street Vendors Change Their Practices
The crackdown is also having a visible impact on Mumbai’s huge street-food sector.
Reuters visited 25 street vendors and restaurants in Mumbai last week and found signs that many businesses were becoming more cautious about hygiene and food preparation.
One vendor reportedly replaced artificial red colouring with natural chilli in Chinese food, while another began changing frying oil three times a day. Some businesses have also introduced gloves and head coverings for staff.
Even the city’s iconic vada pav has come under scrutiny.
In June, Mundhe prohibited vendors from using newspapers as wrapping material for the popular potato-filled bun, encouraging the use of cleaner alternatives instead.
Customers have noticed the changes. Fourteen-year-old Supriya Wagle, a vada pav fan, said she was pleased to see the snack being wrapped in butter paper, describing the change as a relief.
Businesses Accuse Department of Heavy-Handedness
Despite the public support, Mundhe’s campaign has also attracted criticism from businesses.
Companies and restaurant operators have argued that they should be given sufficient time to understand and meet new or strictly enforced requirements. Some businesses have approached the High Court, accusing the food safety department of acting in a high-handed manner.
The department has also faced legal setbacks. In one case, a court reportedly fined the authorities 500,000 Indian rupees after an eatery’s suspension continued even after the business had improved its compliance.
Mundhe said the department takes judicial observations seriously and is willing to make improvements when there is room to do so.
Mundhe Says He Is No Celebrity
Mundhe’s increasingly public profile has turned him into something of a celebrity in India.
At an event in New Delhi on Friday, members of the public reportedly approached him for selfies and tried to shake his hand. One admirer even suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give him a national-level role.
Mundhe, however, played down the attention.
“I don’t think I’m a celebrity. I’m just a food safety commissioner,” he told Reuters.
For Mumbai residents, his campaign has nevertheless become a highly visible reminder of the importance of food hygiene. Whether the crackdown leads to lasting improvements across the city’s vast food industry remains to be seen, but for now, Mundhe’s inspections have placed food safety firmly in the public spotlight.
