📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Alok Singh Oberoi
Food
Maharashtra FDA chief unveils pioneering plan to fight food adulteration
✍️ Livemint
🗓 06 Sep 2026, 02:34 PM
👁 7
Maharashtra’s food safety chief Tukaram Mundhe announced a first‑of‑its‑kind strategy aimed at curbing adulteration across the state’s food supply.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra, led by chief Tukaram Mundhe, has rolled out a landmark initiative designed to tackle the persistent problem of food adulteration, especially as the festive season drives higher consumer demand.
Mundhe outlined a multi‑pronged approach that will expand random sampling of food items, strengthen laboratory testing capacity, and tighten enforcement of existing regulations. The plan also calls for coordinated inspections across markets, warehouses and processing units, with penalties calibrated to deter repeat offences.
State officials said the strategy will be implemented in phases, beginning with high‑risk commodities such as spices, oils and dairy products. They expect the heightened surveillance to improve consumer confidence and reduce health risks associated with sub‑standard foods.
Industry representatives have welcomed the focus on transparency but have urged the administration to provide clear guidelines to avoid operational disruptions. The FDA has pledged regular public updates on inspection outcomes and compliance rates.
Mundhe outlined a multi‑pronged approach that will expand random sampling of food items, strengthen laboratory testing capacity, and tighten enforcement of existing regulations. The plan also calls for coordinated inspections across markets, warehouses and processing units, with penalties calibrated to deter repeat offences.
State officials said the strategy will be implemented in phases, beginning with high‑risk commodities such as spices, oils and dairy products. They expect the heightened surveillance to improve consumer confidence and reduce health risks associated with sub‑standard foods.
Industry representatives have welcomed the focus on transparency but have urged the administration to provide clear guidelines to avoid operational disruptions. The FDA has pledged regular public updates on inspection outcomes and compliance rates.