India’s Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has become an unlikely celebrity after launching a major crackdown on food safety violations across the state and its largest city, Mumbai, Reuters reported.
While many consumers have praised his bold approach and reported improvements in India’s notoriously inconsistent street food hygiene, some businesses say his actions go too far.
Since taking charge of Maharashtra’s food safety authority, Mundhe has overseen more than 3,000 inspections targeting restaurants, street vendors, hotels, food warehouses and other establishments. Even global chains such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut have faced inspections. Some inspections were followed by the release of images showing serious problems, including pests, poor sanitation and expired food.
The increased scrutiny has also prompted some Mumbai food vendors to change their practices, including using fresher ingredients, changing cooking oil more frequently and requiring workers to wear gloves and head coverings.
For many consumers, Mundhe’s approach has come as a relief. Authorities recently prohibited vendors from using newspapers to wrap food, including the popular local dish «vada pav,» a spicy potato patty served in a bun.
However, some businesses say the measures are too strict, arguing that they should be given more time to implement the required changes.
