Indian food safety officer leads crackdown on Mumbai eateries

Key facts

• Food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has initiated a significant crackdown on food businesses in Mumbai.
• Mundhe has suspended food permits for multiple outlets of Domino's, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's due to hygiene and safety violations.
• Over 3,000 raids have been conducted since Mundhe took charge in May.
• The crackdown has led to widespread public admiration but also criticism from businesses facing accusations of high-handedness.
• Mundhe's department was fined for continuing the suspension of an eatery despite improvements.

Tukaram Mundhe, a 51-year-old Indian bureaucrat, has launched an unprecedented crackdown on food businesses in Mumbai as the state food safety commissioner. Since taking office in May, Mundhe has led over 3,000 raids, resulting in the suspension of food permits for multiple outlets of major chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's, as well as targeting cricket clubs, hotels, and restaurants for poor hygiene and unsafe food practices.

Mundhe's no-nonsense approach, which includes public statements and graphic images of violations, has captivated the public and garnered widespread admiration across India, tapping into deep-seated frustration over food safety concerns. Government data indicates that a significant percentage of food samples checked annually are found to be unsafe or substandard.

Despite public support, Mundhe faces criticism from some businesses who argue they should be given more time to comply and accuse his department of high-handedness. In one instance, his department was fined for continuing the suspension of an eatery even after it improved its compliance. Mundhe, who has been transferred numerous times in his career, remains undeterred, stating his commitment to public safety.

The heightened enforcement has led to visible changes in some establishments, with vendors adopting stricter hygiene practices and customers expressing increased confidence in street food. Mundhe, however, downplays his celebrity status, asserting he is simply fulfilling his role as a food safety commissioner.