Industrialist Harsh Goenka has found a humorous way to react to Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe's strict food safety checks.
Goenka shared a picture of a restaurant board, which appears to be AI-generated, that reads, "Forget Michelin stars, Tukaram Mundhe approved eatery," with the caption, "The new status symbol for restaurants."
The joke suggests that getting a "Tukaram Mundhe approved" tag could now be a bigger achievement for a restaurant than earning a Michelin star.
Since taking charge of the Maharashtra FDA, Mundhe, a 2005-batch IAS officer, has stepped up inspections of restaurants, food shops, warehouses and quick-commerce dark stores.
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Several food businesses have faced action over alleged hygiene and food safety violations. Some outlets of major food chains were temporarily shut after inspections reportedly found issues such as pests and expired products.
The post has quickly drawn attention on social media.
One person commented, "That's good, throw those Michelin stars. India has the highest food variety and should start its own marking system. Only Tukaram Munde saheb."
That's good, throw those Michelin stars. India has the highest food variety and should start its own marking system. Only Tukaram Munde saheb ????????
— ATULTEJ (@atul_rajha78474) August 23, 2026Advertisement
Another wrote, "Surviving that FDA kitchen inspection is genuinely harder than winning a star."
surviving that fda kitchen inspection is genuinely harder than winning a star
— Saad Hussain (@iamsaadhussein) August 22, 2026Advertisement
"Very soon they will start using (TM) next to restaurant names. Earlier it was known as Trade Mark; now it's known as Tukaram Mundhe approved," wrote the next.
Very soon they will start using (TM) next to restaurant names. Earlier it was known as Trade Mark, now its known as Tukaram Mundhe approved.
— Ashutosh Esquire (@AshutoshEsq) August 22, 2026Advertisement
"This seems more authentic than Michelin star restaurants," commented another.
This seems more authentic than Michelin star restaurants ????— :: RB :: (@DeLoneWulf) August 22, 2026
The FDA recently suspended the food licences of several establishments, including a McDonald's outlet in Colaba, Status Restaurant in Nariman Point, Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba and Khar Gymkhana. Inspections reportedly found issues linked to hygiene and food safety.
At the Bombay Presidency Radio Club, FDA officials reportedly found live flies and dead cockroaches in the kitchen. They also found peeling ceiling paint and plaster above food preparation areas.
Also Read: Harsh Goenka Praises Ahmedabad's Kitchen CCTV Initiative, Says 'Time To Take This Pan-India?'
Officials also said the McDonald's outlet had failed to fix several violations pointed out in an earlier notice. These included live cockroaches, poor pest control, food waste near storage areas and unclean cleaning cloths.
Mundhe took charge as Maharashtra FDA commissioner in May and has since stepped up inspections of restaurants and other food businesses. He has also warned about the repeated use of cooking oil. The FDA recently inspected 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across Maharashtra and issued improvement notices to 71 establishments.