“Our Action Was Correct”: Tukaram Mundhe Defends FDA Action After ₹5 Lakh Fine on Pune Sweet Shop
Mumbai: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has defended his department’s action against a Pune-based sweet shop, saying the authorities acted in the interest of public health and had no reason to regret the decision.
Mundhe’s comments came after the Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh to the Pune sweet shop after finding that the continued suspension of its food licence was not justified once the establishment had substantially complied with the required safety standards.
Speaking to ANI, Mundhe said the court’s decision came as a surprise to the department. However, he stressed that the FDA would wait for the detailed written order before deciding its next legal step.
“The order in the Pune-based sweets shop case is surprising for us. However, the written order is yet to come, and we will see when it comes. But we will use our legal option here,” Mundhe said.
The commissioner strongly defended the original action taken against the shop. According to him, the FDA’s intervention followed a food-poisoning incident in which several people reportedly fell ill after consuming products from the establishment.
Mundhe said that the food samples involved in the case were reported as unsafe and that some of the affected consumers had to be hospitalised. On that basis, he argued that the department had acted responsibly and in accordance with its duty to protect public health.
“It was a case of food poisoning, and those who consumed the sweets were hospitalised, and the report is ‘unsafe’. So, the action we took was correct; there was nothing wrong there,” he said.
He added that the FDA continues to stand by its findings and would examine the court’s order once the written judgment is available.
The dispute began after the food licence of the Pune sweets shop was suspended on June 12 following an inspection. During the inspection, FDA officials identified several shortcomings related to hygiene and sanitation.
The shop subsequently submitted a compliance report, claiming that it had addressed the deficiencies pointed out by the authorities. A follow-up inspection was conducted on July 13.
The re-inspection reportedly found that the establishment had complied with 35 out of 36 parameters, amounting to around 98 per cent compliance. Despite this substantial improvement, the licence remained suspended, leading the shop to approach the Bombay High Court.
The court subsequently set aside the continued suspension, allowing the establishment to resume its operations. It also directed the Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh to the shop within 30 days.
The case has raised questions about the balance between strict food-safety enforcement and the rights of businesses that quickly correct violations identified during inspections.
Mundhe, however, maintained that food safety cannot be compromised and said the department’s responsibility is to protect consumers. He indicated that the FDA would continue taking action whenever establishments fail to comply with food-safety regulations.
The commissioner’s remarks also come against the backdrop of a wider food-safety campaign being conducted by the Maharashtra FDA.
On August 13, the department carried out a special inspection drive targeting establishments selling food through online delivery platforms. A total of 86 establishments across Maharashtra were inspected during the operation.
The FDA said one establishment was ordered to immediately stop its operations, while 60 improvement notices were issued. In addition, 14 food business licences were suspended with immediate effect.
The department also conducted inspections involving milk and dairy products. During the drive, officials seized 698 kg of dairy products valued at approximately ₹34,302.
Action was also taken against the illegal sale and distribution of banned products such as pan masala and gutkha. According to the FDA, 10 FIRs were registered in connection with these cases, nine people were arrested and banned products worth around ₹46.76 lakh were seized.
Apart from this, officials seized approximately 1,270 kg of other food products, including milk and dairy items, bakery products and edible oil. The total value of these seized products was estimated at around ₹1.29 lakh.
Mundhe stressed that ensuring food and medicine safety should not be left entirely to government regulators. He called for greater participation from consumers, food businesses and other stakeholders.
According to him, citizens should report unsafe or suspicious food products so that regulators can investigate and take appropriate action.
He also called for greater self-compliance among food businesses, saying the long-term objective should be a system in which establishments follow safety standards voluntarily rather than waiting for enforcement action.
Mundhe said that maintaining high standards for food and medicines is essential for building a healthier India. He described food safety as a shared responsibility involving consumers, businesses and government agencies.
The commissioner said that if food businesses consistently follow regulations, the need for repeated regulatory intervention would decrease.
The Pune sweet shop case is therefore likely to remain a point of debate over how food-safety rules should be enforced. While the court has ordered compensation after finding fault with the continued suspension of the licence, the FDA maintains that its original intervention was justified by the circumstances and the safety concerns identified at the time.
Mundhe has indicated that the department will carefully study the court’s written order and consider further legal action. Until then, the FDA maintains that its initial action was taken with the primary objective of protecting public health.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
