Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said nutraceuticals and health supplements will be the department's next major area of focus following a series of measures to protect food safety and adulteration. Mundhe called the FDA's findings on nutraceutical products so far “disturbing”.
The proposed action on nutraceuticals would go beyond checking labels on the products, Mundhe said. The FDA will be looking at supplements’ contents, consumption, prescriptions and how they are sold. The move comes amid concerns over products that claim ingredients or health benefits.
Some products even came with claims that they contained particular ingredients that didn’t; Mundhe said. He also raised concerns about misleading claims and the way such products are consumed without medical prescriptions. The FDA chief said the agency's forthcoming order would go beyond packaging and labelling to address a bigger picture.
The focus on nutraceuticals is in line with other food-safety measures initiated by the Maharashtra FDA. The department has recently taken action against products and establishments including analogue paneer, adulterated milk, edible oil, and restaurants where hygiene standards were allegedly not being followed.
Mundhe said FDA actions were planned in a sequence that was based on different age groups. The department's order on infant food covers children up to the age of two, while restrictions on foods high in fat, salt and sugar in schools and within 50 metres of school premises apply to children and young people between two and 18.
The next proposed order on nutraceuticals looks to expand that view to products that are consumed by younger people. Mundhe said the approach was intended to provide consumers, food businesses, licence holders and FDA officers with clear guidance on how the rules should be carried out.
The FDA commissioner’s recent actions have also made him a popular subject of public discussion and memes and newspaper columns. Mundhe has rejected the notion of himself as a “national hero”. He has said that he is a public servant and he expects his work to be looked at.
Mundhe said that the attention around the FDA is largely driven by the issues involved, not his personal profile. Food safety is directly related to consumers, and actions taken by the regulator are likely to generate public discussion regardless of whether the department takes action or does not.
He also addressed the criticism around the FDA’s festival-related food safety enforcement. The department's actions had been criticized for violating religious or cultural practices, Mundhe said. Mundhe said the FDA’s jurisdiction was food rather than festivals. The department’s approach is religion-neutral and culture-neutral.
During the Ganpati festival period, the Maharashtra FDA seized around 6.3 lakh kilograms of suspected food products valued at around Rs 9.76 crore. Such enforcement drives have also increased public attention on the department's inspection activities.
Another issue has been the FDA’s practice of releasing photographs and videos from raids and inspections. Restaurateurs have opposed such reporting as it could be considered defamation. Mundhe said the information was to inform the public of what regulators were finding and not to paint individuals or businesses as good or bad.
Mundhe said the larger goal was to change the culture around food safety in Maharashtra. The Food Safety and Standards Act, which came into effect in 2011, was meant to move the regulatory approach beyond adulteration towards broader standards and food safety. Mundhe says it’s a big challenge to make the cultural shift.
Mundhe's tenure has also attracted attention because he has been transferred around 25 times in his 21 years in public service. Mundhe said he had no assurance about how long he would be in his current position. He doesn’t care so much about postings and instead focuses on the responsibilities involved in his current role.
The FDA chief also addressed allegations made by Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP. In a letter dated 27 September, Raut alleged that some FDA officials were threatening hotels, restaurants and quick-commerce companies with licence suspensions to extort money. Mundhe said he was prepared to investigate such allegations if specific details were provided.
Mundhe said no formal complaint regarding the allegations had reached his desk at the time of the interview. He said anyone who was allegedly asked for money by an FDA official should approach him directly and provide details that could enable an investigation to begin.
He also said corruption is discussed in his internal review meetings and officers are warned about the consequences of misconduct. Mundhe stressed that concrete information is needed for disciplinary or investigative action rather than relying solely on rumours or general allegations.
Even as nutraceuticals now become the next big regulatory focus, the Maharashtra FDA’s approach could bring greater scrutiny to the health supplement market. The proposed order will include not just product labels, but ingredients, claims, consumption, prescriptions and sales practices, Mundhe said.
This is happening as consumers increasingly look for nutrition, wellness and specific health benefits. The FDA's planned intervention will therefore bring manufacturers and sellers under closer regulatory scrutiny and also put people’s health claims on the agenda.
