The Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra, Tukaram Mundhe, has drawn public attention through his campaign for food security in the state. Recently, he emphasized that the health of the population is more important to him than personal fame.
Tukaram Mundhe gained public recognition after conducting large-scale food safety inspections across the state. When asked whether his popularity distracts him from his work, Mundhe responded that it is not a distracting factor. He stated: 'Popularity has never been my goal. Issues such as public health are of paramount importance to me.'
He clarified that all his actions are aimed not at himself personally, but at improving the condition of India and public health in general. Tukaram Mundhe also addressed the issue of political or administrative pressure on him. He noted that during his two decades of service, he has dealt with this matter, adding that without healthy human capital, the country cannot become a great power, and citizens must make public health their top priority.
Over 12 thousand establishments inspected since May
Tukaram Mundhe took office as FDA commissioner in May 2026. He reported that steps have been taken against 12,083 establishments since then. Of these, 5,269 institutions received notices to rectify violations, and licenses of 603 have been suspended.
Position on advertising for Swiggy, Zomato, and Ilaichi
Mundhe also openly expressed his opinion regarding the responsibility of food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato. He stated that according to the law, they are operators of the food business, although he does not consider them as such. He added that they have warehouses, and action has also been taken against them.
Regarding the issue of advertising substitutes for Paan Masala (Ilaichi advertisement), he commented on receiving responses from Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff. He reported that responses have been received from two out of three actors, and there is still time within the allotted 30 days.