Stories
Tukaram Mundhe: Food Safety Rules Exist, But Non-Compliance Threatens Public Health
- •Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasizes that existing food safety and advertising laws are not being followed, leading to significant public health issues.
- •Mundhe links the rise in non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart conditions to food consumption and the lack of proper food safety implementation.
- •He stresses that advertisers and endorsers have a responsibility to ensure claims are truthful, citing Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
- •The Maharashtra FDA has issued show-cause notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff regarding Vimal Elaichi advertisements, highlighting the responsibility of endorsers.
- •Mundhe asserts that strict enforcement and ethical responsibility from all citizens, endorsers, and advertisers are crucial for improving food safety and public health.
Key Questions Answered
The Maharashtra FDA issued show-cause notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over advertisements for Vimal Elaichi, alleging it served as surrogate promotion for Vimal Pan Masala, a product prohibited in the state.
Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, prohibits misleading food advertisements, with Section 53 imposing penalties up to Rs 10 lakh. Additionally, the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, regulate product claims.
Mundhe links food safety to India's epidemiological shift toward non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac issues, noting that premature health problems often have a direct correlation with food consumption and standards.
