📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Alok Singh Oberoi
Health
Maharashtra FDA chief issues notices to over 12,000 entities in four months
✍️ Deccan Herald
🗓 07 Sep 2026, 04:39 AM
👁 5
Maharashtra food‑safety chief Tukaram Mundhe said his focus is enforcement, not popularity, after the department served notices to 12,083 businesses in just four months.
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief, Tukaram Mundhe, disclosed that the agency has issued formal notices to 12,083 entities over the past four months. The notices target a range of violations, from sub‑standard food products to non‑compliance with labeling norms, as part of the state’s intensified food‑safety drive.
Speaking to the press, Mundhe emphasized that his priority is strict enforcement rather than gaining public approval. "Popularity was never my goal," he said, underscoring the department’s commitment to safeguarding consumer health over political considerations.
The rapid issuance of notices reflects Maharashtra’s broader effort to tighten regulatory oversight following several high‑profile food‑safety incidents nationwide. Officials said the action aims to deter malpractice, ensure compliance, and ultimately protect consumers across the state.
Industry representatives have been urged to cooperate with the FDA, rectify identified lapses, and submit compliance reports within stipulated timelines. Failure to do so could result in penalties, product recalls, or revocation of licences.
Mundhe’s statement and the large number of notices signal a proactive stance by the state’s food‑regulatory body, aligning with national objectives to improve food quality and consumer confidence.
Speaking to the press, Mundhe emphasized that his priority is strict enforcement rather than gaining public approval. "Popularity was never my goal," he said, underscoring the department’s commitment to safeguarding consumer health over political considerations.
The rapid issuance of notices reflects Maharashtra’s broader effort to tighten regulatory oversight following several high‑profile food‑safety incidents nationwide. Officials said the action aims to deter malpractice, ensure compliance, and ultimately protect consumers across the state.
Industry representatives have been urged to cooperate with the FDA, rectify identified lapses, and submit compliance reports within stipulated timelines. Failure to do so could result in penalties, product recalls, or revocation of licences.
Mundhe’s statement and the large number of notices signal a proactive stance by the state’s food‑regulatory body, aligning with national objectives to improve food quality and consumer confidence.