Pune records highest unhygienic food complaints across Maharashtra
FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said Pune district has logged the most complaints on Maharashtra's new food complaint portal. The system promises faster action, automatic escalation and tighter transparency in food safety enforcement.
Pune district has emerged as the leading contributor of complaints related to unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched its online grievance portal, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Saturday. The portal, complaints.mahafda.in, received an overwhelming response, recording nearly 10 lakh hits within 24 hours of its launch.
Addressing reporters in Pune, Mundhe said the highest number of complaints received through the portal originated from Pune district, with most pertaining to unhygienic food served by establishments. He said the platform was introduced to strengthen transparency and accountability in food safety enforcement while enabling citizens to directly report violations.
Mundhe was in Pune to attend a food safety conference organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. Highlighting the grievance redressal mechanism, he said every complaint registered on the portal would be acknowledged by the FDA's regional joint commissioner within 24 hours and assigned to a designated officer.
If no action is taken within the prescribed timeline, the complaint will be automatically escalated to a higher-ranking official.
The FDA chief also urged hotels, restaurants and other food establishments to adopt robust food safety management systems and ensure compliance with all 22 key regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Since assuming office as FDA Commissioner in May, Mundhe has overseen intensified inspections at hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries across Maharashtra. In recent weeks, the FDA suspended the food business licence of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm after detecting serious hygiene and food safety violations.
On Saturday, officials also announced the suspension of the licence of the canteen at Mumbai's KEM Hospital and directed it to cease operations over similar violations.
Mundhe said the department is also exploring the use of blockchain technology to maintain records of food business operators against whom enforcement action has been taken. He added that the complaint portal, coupled with ongoing inspections, is intended to make food safety regulation in Maharashtra more transparent, efficient and accountable.
Pune district has emerged as the leading contributor of complaints related to unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched its online grievance portal, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Saturday. The portal, complaints.mahafda.in, received an overwhelming response, recording nearly 10 lakh hits within 24 hours of its launch.
Addressing reporters in Pune, Mundhe said the highest number of complaints received through the portal originated from Pune district, with most pertaining to unhygienic food served by establishments. He said the platform was introduced to strengthen transparency and accountability in food safety enforcement while enabling citizens to directly report violations.
Mundhe was in Pune to attend a food safety conference organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. Highlighting the grievance redressal mechanism, he said every complaint registered on the portal would be acknowledged by the FDA's regional joint commissioner within 24 hours and assigned to a designated officer.
If no action is taken within the prescribed timeline, the complaint will be automatically escalated to a higher-ranking official.
The FDA chief also urged hotels, restaurants and other food establishments to adopt robust food safety management systems and ensure compliance with all 22 key regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Since assuming office as FDA Commissioner in May, Mundhe has overseen intensified inspections at hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries across Maharashtra. In recent weeks, the FDA suspended the food business licence of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm after detecting serious hygiene and food safety violations.
On Saturday, officials also announced the suspension of the licence of the canteen at Mumbai's KEM Hospital and directed it to cease operations over similar violations.
Mundhe said the department is also exploring the use of blockchain technology to maintain records of food business operators against whom enforcement action has been taken. He added that the complaint portal, coupled with ongoing inspections, is intended to make food safety regulation in Maharashtra more transparent, efficient and accountable.
Pune district has emerged as the leading contributor of complaints related to unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched its online grievance portal, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Saturday. The portal, complaints.mahafda.in, received an overwhelming response, recording nearly 10 lakh hits within 24 hours of its launch.
Addressing reporters in Pune, Mundhe said the highest number of complaints received through the portal originated from Pune district, with most pertaining to unhygienic food served by establishments. He said the platform was introduced to strengthen transparency and accountability in food safety enforcement while enabling citizens to directly report violations.
Mundhe was in Pune to attend a food safety conference organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. Highlighting the grievance redressal mechanism, he said every complaint registered on the portal would be acknowledged by the FDA's regional joint commissioner within 24 hours and assigned to a designated officer.
If no action is taken within the prescribed timeline, the complaint will be automatically escalated to a higher-ranking official.
The FDA chief also urged hotels, restaurants and other food establishments to adopt robust food safety management systems and ensure compliance with all 22 key regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Since assuming office as FDA Commissioner in May, Mundhe has overseen intensified inspections at hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries across Maharashtra. In recent weeks, the FDA suspended the food business licence of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm after detecting serious hygiene and food safety violations.
On Saturday, officials also announced the suspension of the licence of the canteen at Mumbai's KEM Hospital and directed it to cease operations over similar violations.
Mundhe said the department is also exploring the use of blockchain technology to maintain records of food business operators against whom enforcement action has been taken. He added that the complaint portal, coupled with ongoing inspections, is intended to make food safety regulation in Maharashtra more transparent, efficient and accountable.
