Tukaram Mundhe, the commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has conducted more than 3,000 raids on food establishments in Mumbai since taking office in May. The inspections, which target issues such as poor hygiene and unlicensed operations, have resulted in the temporary closure of several high-profile international and local outlets. Mundhe stated that his approach is necessary because the agency is "dealing with the lives of people."
The crackdown follows years of reported public frustration regarding food safety in India. According to government data, Indian food inspectors have tested more than 100,000 samples annually since 2020, finding approximately 20% to be unsafe, substandard, or mislabeled. In the last three years, authorities have canceled nearly 8,000 food business licenses across the country. Mundhe, a 21-year veteran of the Indian Administrative Service, noted that he has been transferred numerous times throughout his career, which he attributed to his enforcement style.
During recent weeks, the FDA suspended permits for four Domino’s outlets, one Pizza Hut, and one McDonald’s location. Inspectors reported finding "live pest activity" and "rotting food" at the McDonald’s site. The agency also targeted cricket clubs, a 70-year-old ice cream parlor, and a 110-year-old dairy. When a judge questioned if government facilities were being held to the same standard, Mundhe’s teams inspected and shut down several court canteens that were found to be operating without valid licenses.
For the average resident or tourist in Mumbai, these actions change the day-to-day experience of purchasing food. Customers may notice vendors wearing gloves and head caps or receiving popular street foods like 'vada pav' in butter paper instead of traditional newspaper wrapping, which Mundhe prohibited in June. However, the aggressive enforcement has also led to legal pushback. Some businesses have petitioned the High Court, and in one instance, a court fined the FDA 500,000 rupees (approximately $5,225) for keeping an eatery suspended after it had already corrected its violations.
The long-term impact involves a potential shift in how the Indian food industry, valued at billions of dollars, manages hygiene standards. If the strict regulatory model remains in place, it could set a precedent for other Indian states to increase inspections of both local kiosks and major multinational chains. The next steps for many affected businesses involve court hearings to contest suspensions. While fans of Mundhe’s methods have called for him to take a national role, his current focus remains as the state-level commissioner. Moving forward, the FDA will continue its inspection schedule, though specific upcoming raid dates are not public.