Daijiworld Media Network – Pune
Pune, Jul 19: Pune district has recorded the highest number of complaints related to unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched its online complaint-reporting portal, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said.
Mundhe was in Pune on Saturday to attend a food safety conference organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture.
Addressing reporters, he said the FDA recently launched the portal, complaints.mahafda.in, enabling the public to register complaints related to food items.
"Thousands of complaints poured in after the portal went live and 10 lakh hits were recorded within 24 hours," he said.
Replying to a question on the distribution of complaints across the state, Mundhe said, "The highest number of complaints has been registered in Pune district, and most of them concern unhygienic food."
He said the new system would ensure greater accountability and transparency. Under the mechanism, the FDA Joint Commissioner of the concerned region is required to take cognisance of a registered complaint within 24 hours and assign it to an officer. If no action is taken within the stipulated time, the complaint will be automatically escalated to a senior official in the department.
Mundhe also urged hotels and other food establishments to comply with food safety management systems and adhere to all 22 major regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The FDA has intensified its crackdown on food businesses across Maharashtra since Mundhe, who took charge as Commissioner in May. Inspections have been carried out at several hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries.
The FDA recently suspended the food business licence of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm after detecting serious food safety and hygiene violations. It has also suspended the licence of a canteen operating at Mumbai's KEM Hospital and ordered it to cease operations over similar violations.
Mundhe said the FDA is also exploring the use of blockchain technology to maintain records of entities against which action has been taken in the past.