Mumbai Food Safety Commissioner’s Crackdown Puts Eateries on Alert
Mumbai, August 24, 2026: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has emerged as one of the most talked-about officials in Mumbai after launching an aggressive campaign against unhygienic and unsafe food practices.
Since taking charge as the state’s food safety chief in May, Mundhe and his teams have carried out more than 3,000 inspections across Mumbai and other areas. The action has included restaurants, hotels, cricket clubs, grocery warehouses and popular food chains.
Several well-known outlets have faced action in recent weeks. The permits of four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet were suspended over alleged hygiene violations. A McDonald’s outlet was also temporarily suspended after inspectors reportedly found cockroach activity and rotting food.
Mundhe’s inspections have attracted widespread public attention because officials have regularly released details and images from their raids. Some of the photographs showed alleged violations such as dirty kitchens, cockroaches, rats and expired food products.
The crackdown is also changing how smaller food businesses operate. Reuters found that some street vendors and restaurants have begun taking extra precautions, including replacing artificial food colouring with natural ingredients, changing cooking oil more frequently and ensuring workers use gloves and head coverings.
Even Mumbai’s much-loved vada pav has come under scrutiny. Mundhe’s department prohibited the use of newspapers to wrap food, encouraging vendors to use safer packaging materials instead. Customers have welcomed some of these changes, saying they feel more comfortable buying street food when better hygiene practices are followed.
Public Support and Business Concerns
Mundhe has gained considerable public popularity for his strict approach to food safety. His actions have resonated with consumers who have long complained about poor hygiene standards at eateries and roadside food stalls.
However, not everyone agrees with his methods. Some businesses have accused the FDA of being too aggressive and argue that establishments should be given sufficient time to correct violations before facing severe action. Some cases have also reached the courts.
In one instance, a court imposed a ₹5 lakh fine on the department after an eatery continued to face suspension despite making improvements to comply with food safety requirements.
Mundhe, however, has maintained that businesses must take food safety seriously because their actions directly affect public health. He has also indicated that his department is willing to respond to genuine concerns and improve its approach when required.
Despite the criticism, Mundhe’s tough stance has turned him into something of a public figure. At a recent event in New Delhi, people reportedly approached him for selfies and praised his work.
Mundhe, for his part, has played down the attention, saying he does not consider himself a celebrity. His message remains straightforward: food businesses must follow safety rules, because the health of consumers is at stake.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
