Fadnavis backs Mundhe’s food safety crackdown despite criticism

Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has thrown his weight behind Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, firmly defending the latter’s aggressive campaign against food safety violations across Maharashtra.

In his first public reaction to Mundhe’s ongoing drive, Fadnavis on Tuesday said strict enforcement was necessary to protect public health and made it clear that the crackdown would continue.

“The FDA action is going really well. If food is adulterated or food safety norms are violated, it poses a serious danger to the lives and health of people. Therefore, strict action is necessary,” Fadnavis said.

Backing Mundhe’s approach, the Chief Minister added, “This action will continue.”

Mundhe took charge as FDA Commissioner in May and has since intensified inspections and enforcement operations across the state. FDA teams have conducted raids, issued show-cause notices and suspended licences of several establishments, including restaurants, elite clubs, popular cafes, global fast-food chains and ice-cream parlours. Warehouses operated by food delivery platforms have also come under scrutiny.

While there is broad support for action against establishments violating food safety norms, Mundhe’s methods have attracted criticism from some quarters over allegations of excessive and disproportionate enforcement. Questions have particularly been raised over the seizure of large quantities of food products and the closure of establishments or warehouses before operators were given adequate opportunity to rectify violations.

The Bombay High Court recently cautioned against adopting an overly harsh approach while hearing a petition challenging FDA action, observing that authorities should not be “using a sword to kill a mosquito”.

Mundhe, however, has remained unfazed by the criticism and has continued with the enforcement campaign.

His recent action against Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff has further intensified the debate. The FDA issued show-cause notices to the three actors over their appearance in an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, alleging that it amounted to surrogate promotion of pan masala, a prohibited product in Maharashtra, along with gutkha and tobacco.

The actors have been given 15 days to explain why legal action should not be initiated against them.

Mundhe has also defended the timing of the action, acknowledging that proceedings could have been initiated earlier. He pointed out that the relevant food safety legislation and advertising regulations had been in place for several years and that implementation of the applicable advertising provisions began in July 2019.

“If the same advertisements were being aired even after that, then one could certainly say that the action was delayed. But we have now started taking appropriate action,” Mundhe said.

With the Chief Minister now openly backing the FDA Commissioner, the state’s intensified campaign against food adulteration, unsafe food practices and surrogate advertising is expected to continue unabated.

Source: Nagpur Today