‘If There’s a Will, There’s a Way’: FSSAI CEO Praises Maharashtra FDA’s Tukaram Mundhe

New Delhi/Mumbai: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Rajit Punhani has praised Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe for his aggressive enforcement drive against food-safety violations, saying the campaign demonstrates that “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Speaking to India Today TV, Punhani said he was pleased with the way Maharashtra’s food-safety machinery had been strengthened under Mundhe. Importantly, he pointed out that the intensified enforcement was achieved without an increase in the number of food-safety officers.

“If there’s a will, one can do it with the same food safety officer, same number,” Punhani said, highlighting the importance of effective administration and enforcement.

Mundhe, a 2005-batch IAS officer, has been serving as Commissioner of Maharashtra FDA and has led an extensive crackdown on food-safety violations involving restaurants, hotels, food businesses, warehouses and other establishments. The Maharashtra FDA's official website lists him as the state's Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration.

Mundhe’s food-safety crackdown

Since taking charge, Mundhe has pushed for more inspections and stricter action against establishments allegedly violating food-safety standards. The campaign has included restaurants, hotels, dairies, canteens and other food establishments across Maharashtra.

The crackdown has attracted considerable public attention, with images and reports of unhygienic kitchens and food-safety violations circulating widely. Reuters reported that more than 3,000 food-safety raids had been carried out since Mundhe assumed the post in May, with several licences suspended.

Mundhe has maintained that the objective is not to target individual businesses but to ensure that consumers have access to safe and standard food. He has also called for food safety to become a broader public movement rather than merely an enforcement exercise.

FSSAI CEO rejects ‘punishment posting’ perception

Punhani also pushed back against the long-standing perception that food-safety departments are sometimes treated as a “punishment posting” for government officials.

According to Punhani, food-safety enforcement has not always received the attention it deserves, with some officers reluctant to take charge of such departments. He said Maharashtra’s experience under Mundhe showed that significant enforcement could be achieved by making better use of existing personnel and resources.

The praise comes amid growing scrutiny of food-safety practices across India and renewed debate over how regulators should balance strict enforcement with due process for businesses.

Mundhe's approach has also faced criticism. The Bombay High Court recently questioned whether some actions by the Maharashtra FDA were disproportionate and raised concerns over the haste involved in certain enforcement measures. The court stressed that regulatory authorities must follow due process while taking action against businesses.

Despite the criticism, Mundhe's campaign has brought food safety back into the national spotlight, with the debate increasingly focusing on whether stronger enforcement can improve hygiene standards across India's food sector.