MUMBAI: From crowded kitchens and storerooms to government canteens and food businesses, Maharashtra’s food safety machinery has been stepping up inspections under FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, an IAS officer whose career has been marked by frequent transfers but whose approach to enforcement has remained uncompromising.The inspections have thrown up problems even at some of Mumbai’s well-known food establishments. Officials have reported pest-control and hygiene violations at K Rustom & Co. in Churchgate, while Noor Mohammadi in Bhendi Bazaar was flagged over hygiene and storage-related shortcomings.At Parsi Dairy Farm, inspectors found fungal growth and raw materials stored near mould-affected walls. Shalimar was also cited for multiple hygiene and storage lapses.At Flint and Wara, inspectors seized allegedly mislabelled products and destroyed expired food stock, according to the information provided. The action has brought attention to conditions that may remain hidden from customers who primarily associate these establishments with their reputation, longevity and popularity.The crackdown, however, extends well beyond Mumbai’s famous eateries. The Maharashtra FDA has been inspecting restaurants, milk suppliers, manufacturers and drug businesses across the state. The department says it has carried out 1,131 inspections, seized food stocks worth nearly Rs 50 crore, including more than 1.6 lakh litres of allegedly adulterated milk, and suspended the licences of 56 restaurants.And at the centre of this enforcement drive is Tukaram Mundhe, the 2005-batch IAS officer known for taking on entrenched interests and maintaining a firm approach to administration.The officer behind Maharashtra’s food safety crackdownMundhe took charge as Maharashtra FDA Commissioner on May 25 and subsequently launched a statewide enforcement campaign focusing on adulteration, hygiene violations and businesses operating without proper licences.The commissioner has made it clear that enforcement will not be limited to what is visible on a customer’s plate.“Adulterated food, poisonous liquor and substandard food products are putting people’s health at risk. The FDA has started a toll-free number for complaints and is receiving an enthusiastic response from citizens. Inspections are being conducted as per rules everywhere, from the High Court canteen to government offices,” he said.Mundhe has also stressed that food safety cannot depend entirely on inspections. In his view, the system works only when businesses comply with regulations, regulators enforce those rules effectively and consumers remain alert.Accustomed to transfersMundhe’s reputation for taking tough administrative positions comes against the backdrop of an unusually long list of postings.He was transferred by the Maharashtra government on March 31, marking his 25th posting in a 21-year bureaucratic career, according to a PTI report. He had earlier served as secretary in the Divyang Kalyan Department before being moved to the Disaster Management, Rehabilitation and Revenue and Forest Department.A June PTI report said Mundhe was also replaced as the guardian secretary of Parbhani, where he had been holding additional charge.Repeated transfers, however, appear not to have altered his approach to public service.Asked about the frequent changes in his postings, Mundhe said: “Frequent transfers do not trouble me. In fact, change is an integral part of progress. The more transfers I have, the more opportunities I get to bring about positive changes.”That attitude has become a recurring part of his public image: a bureaucrat who continues to push his priorities despite being moved from one assignment to another.Beyond files and enforcementMundhe has also spoken publicly about subjects extending beyond administration and enforcement.In a recent social media post after his mother’s death, he said his family had “consciously adopted a sensitive and rational approach inspired by scientific thinking” while carrying out her final rites.After the cremation in their native Tadsonga village in Beed, the family chose to bury the ashes on their agricultural land and plant a banyan tree rather than immerse them in water. They also completed the ceremonies within three days instead of following the traditional 10th and 13th-day rituals.“Nature is the creator and the supreme force of this universe. Protecting, nurturing and respecting nature is the truest form of devotion and tribute,” Mundhe wrote.He said the banyan tree would allow his mother’s love and blessings to remain for generations.Message to Gen ZMundhe has also used his public appearances to speak about young people, urging them not to simply follow popular trends.“Do not blindly follow others. Learn the good qualities from everyone, but create your own identity. Instead of merely drifting with the current, make efforts to bring about positive change in society,” he said.He has also warned about excessive digital consumption, saying the attention span of young people has fallen while screen time has increased.“In the digital age, the attention span of the younger generation has come down to around eight seconds, while screen time has increased to eight or nine hours. Do not merely scroll through reels on social media; think. Be prepared to work hard and create your own identity,” he said.For now, his most visible battle is elsewhere — in kitchens, warehouses, food-processing units, restaurants and supply chains across Maharashtra. Under Mundhe, the FDA’s message is that a familiar name, a long-standing reputation or a loyal customer base cannot by itself guarantee that food is safe.Tukaram Mundhe’s career journey
- 2005-batch IAS officer
Mundhe belongs to the 2005 batch of the Indian Administrative Service. - Maharashtra FDA chief
He took charge as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on May 25. - Statewide crackdown
His tenure at the FDA has seen inspections targeting restaurants, milk suppliers, manufacturers and drug businesses. - 1,131 inspections
The department says it has conducted 1,131 inspections under the ongoing enforcement campaign. - 56 restaurant licences suspended
The FDA says licences of 56 restaurants have been suspended. - 25th posting
Mundhe’s March transfer was described by PTI as his 24th posting in a 21-year bureaucratic career. - Scientific outlook
Following his mother’s death, Mundhe publicly spoke about his family’s decision to adopt what he described as a scientific and environmentally conscious approach to the final rites. - A strong message to young people
Mundhe has urged Gen Z to resist blindly following trends, reduce excessive social-media consumption and build an independent identity.
