Festival Special: Inside Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe’s first-of-its-kind plan to curb food adulteration | Today’s news
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has reportedly announced a comprehensive standing order to curb food adulteration during upcoming religious and cultural festivals across India. He spoke of a four-phase plan that would include inspections of bakeries, monitoring of ‘bhandaras’ and targeted raids. He said, “…a complete calendar has been prepared for this year.”
“Complete calendar” ready for the year
According to ANI, the newly issued order establishes a standardized, year-round enforcement framework across all regions and religious celebrations without requiring separate festival-specific orders.
“There are many upcoming festivals in India. This may also increase the level of counterfeiting during this period. This impacts the customers,” Tukaram Mundhe said, according to ANI.
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He added: “Under the Food Safety Standards Authority Act, we can put special restrictions on items that are high-risk foods. There will be a standing order for all festivals in the year. After that, there will be no need to issue a separate order.”
“The demand for food items like sweets, paneer, ghee, dry fruits, mutton and chicken is increasing manifold. This results in a higher likelihood of adulterated or unsafe products.” A complete calendar for the year is prepared against this background,” he added.
4-phase plan
The FDA commissioner in Maharashtra said that the intensity of the risk will be determined on the basis of various festivals.
For example, Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid, Christmas and New Year will remain in the first category. Makar Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Holi, Gudhipadwa, Ashadhi and Kartik Wari; Shravan month; Janmashtami; Kojagiri Purnima; and Guru Nanak Jayanti will be in class two.
Mundhe said the monitoring will be done in four phases.
“In the first phase, mapping, teaming, availability and labs will be announced in advance. In the second phase, traffic control will be done. In the third phase, it will be done on the actual festival day. In the fourth phase, a case will be filed if necessary,” the Maharashtra FDA chief said.
What steps can be taken? Monitoring of bhandaras, inspection of bakeries
Tukaram Mundhe reportedly emphasized that targeted quality checks on meat, bakery products, ice and bottled drinking water will be carried out during Eid, Ramadan and Christmas. He said targeted raids may also be conducted to curb illegal chemical ripening of fruits on Akshaya Tritiya.
“Inspections will also be conducted during Ramadan and Eid. Inspections will be conducted during Akshaya Tritiya in case of fruit ripening. Bakery goods will be monitored during Christmas. Ice and bottled water will be inspected. Imported goods will be inspected,” he said.
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Munde emphasized that the mass distribution of food items like ‘bhandara’ or ‘langar’ will be monitored by the visit to verify whether food security laws are being followed or not.
“An order has been issued in this regard. Definitions of all things are given in the order in which they were created. No order of this kind has ever been issued in India. This has been done to avoid any untoward incident during the festivities. It will be for all religions and for all geographies,” he said.
