MUMBAI: “I don’t think I’m a celebrity. I’m just a food safety commissioner,” Tukaram Mundhe told Reuters as his crackdown on unhygienic food businesses across Mumbai has struck a chord with the public.Since taking charge as Maharashtra’s food safety chief in May, Mundhe’s teams have conducted more than 3,000 raids, suspended permits at several outlets of major food chains and uncovered alleged violations ranging from poor hygiene to expired food and pest infestations.
A crackdown
The edible-oil action is part of a broader campaign by Mundhe, whose raids have attracted considerable public attention.His teams have targeted major food chains as well as local restaurants, roadside vendors, hotels and long-established establishments.The commissioner has led the suspension of permits at four Domino’s and one Pizza Hut outlet in recent weeks.When a Mumbai judge questioned whether Mundhe’s department was selectively targeting private businesses and asked whether court canteens had been inspected, his teams carried out inspections there within hours and shut some operating without licences.“Those who try to not comply, they will face what is expected from the regulator,” Mundhe said in an interview with Reuters.“You are dealing with the lives of people.”
Rats, cockroaches and expired food
Images released after the raids have shown alleged violations including stained walls, cockroaches, rats and expired food at eateries and food-storage facilities.“It was surprising. I did not expect these many violations,” Mundhe told Reuters.Reuters visits to 25 street vendors and restaurants in Mumbai found that some businesses had changed their practices amid heightened scrutiny.One vendor had replaced artificial red dye with natural chilli, while another had started changing its frying oil three times a day and requiring staff to wear gloves and head caps.Mundhe has also prohibited the use of newspapers to wrap Mumbai’s popular vada pav, citing food safety concerns.
‘Giving people hope’
Mundhe’s actions have earned him a following among members of the public frustrated by longstanding concerns about food hygiene.“Everyone has tried to normalise this for years by saying it happens in India. It’s basically bottled-up anger,” said Ankur Bisen, a partner at consumer consulting firm The Knowledge Company.“I have never seen anyone like Mundhe. It’s giving people hope.”But businesses have accused his department of being heavy-handed, with some approaching the High Court.In one case, judges fined the department Rs 5 lakh for continuing to suspend an eatery after it had improved its compliance.“If there are observations by the court, we take it seriously. If there is scope for improvement, we improve,” Mundhe told Reuters.
Why the FDA is targeting loose edible oil’
The food safety drive has now expanded to the sale of loose edible oil, prompting concern among traditional traders and small retailers.The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the move is not a new restriction but an enforcement of food safety provisions that have been in force since 2011.The FDA said edible oil sold directly to consumers must be supplied in sealed, tamper-evident and properly labelled packaging under existing food safety regulations.Mundhe said the requirement was intended to make businesses accountable and allow consumers to trace the source, batch and age of the oil.The department said oil sold directly from drums, tanks, cans or tankers into containers brought by customers, or transferred into smaller containers after the original seal is broken, falls under loose or unauthorised repacking.Bulk movement of edible oil by licensed businesses for manufacturing or transportation is allowed under prescribed rules, the FDA said.But oil sold to the final consumer must be in sealed and labelled packaging.
FDA warns of adulteration
The department said loose oil often lacks information about the manufacturer, packer, batch number, date and source.That makes it difficult to trace the product or establish responsibility if a consumer falls ill or a food safety problem is detected.The FDA also warned that loose sales can make adulteration easier, including mixing cheaper oil with expensive varieties or selling one type of oil as another.It said exposure to air, heat and light could increase the risk of oxidation and rancidity, while unclean or reused containers could introduce dust, water, insects, metal particles or chemical residues into the oil.The absence of manufacturing, packing and ‘Best Before’ dates also makes it difficult to determine the age of the product, the department said.
Traders raise concern
The crackdown has triggered concern among traditional oil traders and small retailers who fear that mandatory packaging could increase costs and affect their businesses.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the FDA would be asked to prepare standard operating procedures to prevent adulteration without crippling the businesses of traditional oil traders and small retailers.The FDA said consumers would still be able to buy oil in small quantities through packaged products.It pointed to 200 ml, 500 ml and one-litre packs, particularly pouches, which it described as among the least expensive packaging options.
Rule has been in place for years
The FDA said Maharashtra had previously allowed temporary exemptions for the sale of loose edible oil.The last such extension ended in 2020 and did not amount to permanent permission, it said.After the exemption expired, food businesses were required to comply with the original restriction under Regulation 2.3.15.The department said the provision was introduced as a food safety measure following serious incidents such as epidemic dropsy.It said packaging and labelling were necessary to prevent adulteration, establish producer responsibility, trace batches and enable recalls.
More than Rs 5 crore worth of oil seized
The FDA collected 1,247 edible oil samples across Maharashtra during 2025-26.Of these, 1,142 met prescribed standards, while 77 were found substandard, 13 unsafe and 15 misbranded.The department also seized 3,20,781 kg of edible oil worth around Rs 5.31 crore.In Beed district alone, loose edible oil worth about Rs 1.94 crore was confiscated.The FDA said the rules apply across India and cited an FSSAI special drive in August 2022, when more than 27,500 litres of loose edible oil were seized across states and Union territories.
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