Watch: Tukaram Mundhe breaks laddu for quality control at Pune Diwali event; video went viral | Today’s news
Ahead of Diwali, Tukaram Mundhe, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra has once again won the hearts of the internet! To make the celebrations healthier for consumers, Mundhe checked the quality of the laddu by breaking it in his hands at a public event in Pune.
The incident took place during the launch of a subsidized Diwali snack stall by the Poona Chamber of Commerce – aimed at providing festive snacks and sweets to people of all sections in good quality and at an economical price.
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Tukaram Mundhe Viral Video
At the event, Tukaram Mundhe broke a laddu in half to verify its quality first hand. After inspection, he approved the product and confirmed that it meets all mandatory food safety standards.
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How did netizens react?
Social media users praised Tukaram Mundhe as an honorable officer and said the country needs more officers like him.
“Tukaram Mundhe an honorable officer who started this awareness from Maharashtra in the country,” the user wrote. “A way to check the purity of food and drink – he can pick up a ladda right now and tell you how much adulteration is in it. This is an introduction to his honesty.”
“The whole country needs strict officers like Tukaram; only then these forgeries will stop,” added another.
“Awareness about the cleanliness of food and drink is very important; people will benefit from such efforts,” the user commented.
“This is really amazing – a single person has shown what honesty really means,” said another user.
A skeptical user said: “They won’t let an honest officer last long.”
FDA Guidelines for Consumers to Choose Safe Diwali Sweets
As Diwali increases demand for festive sweets and snacks, the FDA has issued a safety advisory urging consumers to remain vigilant against counterfeit and substandard products.
To ensure food safety, the FDA recommends the following controls:
- Beware of artificial dyes: Avoid sweets with unnaturally bright hues, especially motichoor laddoos, which may contain excessive amounts of chemical dyes.
- Check the labels: Always verify manufacture and expiration dates on packaged items. The FDA mandates that all vendors display this information prominently.
- Check for damage: Rely on the smell and appearance. Be on the lookout for odd smells, stale ingredients, or the taste of rancid oil, especially with high-fat sweets that spoil quickly if mishandled.
- Avoid suspiciously low prices: Don’t buy candy just because it’s heavily discounted. The FDA has warned that some retailers are repackaging and selling expired products at cheaper prices during the holiday rush.
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Maharashtra FDA seizes 1,190 kg of laddus
Maharashtra FDA seized around 1,190 kg of laddus and other goods worth around ₹1.73 lakh from the Pune manufacturing unit after finding excessive food coloring and unsanitary conditions.
Speaking to ANI, FDA official Balaji Shinde said that the action was taken at the manufacturing unit in Kondhwa following the intimation.
“During the event, Tukaram Munde issued a warning, stressing that strict attention should be paid to the food coloring used in laddu consumed during Diwali to ensure that it remains within the prescribed norms,” he said.
Shinde said the FDA raid found excessive food coloring in the products and lack of proper hygiene standards.
“Accordingly and after being tipped off, we raided the manufacturing unit (a) Laddu Bhandar at Kondhwa. We found excessive food coloring in the food products and also inadequate hygiene standards. Samples have been taken and further action is underway,” he added.
“Boondi and laddus were sampled. A total of 1,190 kg of goods estimated to be worth approx. ₹1,73,950,” Shinde said.
