Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe is becoming widely popular for his zero-tolerance policy towards compromises in food safety. Within roughly his first month in office, the FDA conducted 904 raids across Maharashtra and suspended the licences of several non-compliant food businesses, including iconic restaurants.
In a recent conversation with NDTV, Tukaram Mundhe spoke about how food safety should not be taken lightly. He said, "'Chalta hai' attitude will not work because this is playing with the lives of people. Safety and health of people are of prime importance. That's what my job, objective and role are."
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Explaining his role, he added, "As a state food safety commissioner or drug commissioner, I have to ensure that every person who is eating food gets safe food that is as per the standards. Every person who is getting medication has to get standard medication, neither spurious nor substandard."
Emphasising the importance of following food safety regulations, he continued, "That's what we are expected to do, and that's what the role of a regulator is. We will perform our role; licensees are supposed to comply with the existing regulations."
Impressed with the Maharashtra food safety chief's work, people are calling him a "real-life" Singham. Last week, Mundhe was given a standing ovation in Pune after leading a major crackdown that saw nearly 100 food establishments suspended for hygiene violations.
Maharashtra has also officially banned the production, distribution and sale of fake 'analogue' paneer for one year. The Maharashtra FDA has also mandated that all food establishments provide free safe drinking water and display notices about its availability.