Tukaram Mundhe, the commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has defended the agency’s recent actions against celebrities endorsing surrogate products. He emphasized that all parties involved in the advertising chain bear responsibility for these endorsements. This statement comes amid growing scrutiny of celebrity promotions in the context of consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
The Maharashtra FDA also suspended the licences of multiple food business establishments linked to online platforms including Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart, citing multiple food safety and hygiene violations, PTI news agency reported. The Maharashtra FDA has raided several quick commerce outlets, as well as hotels, restaurants, eateries and online food platforms as part of its wider statewide crackdown over food safety violations. The agency suspended the licence of M/s Parle Agro after finding expired stocks of Frooti, Appy and Apple Fizz at its Chembur godown.
The FDA inspected 86 establishments across Maharashtra on August 13 that sell and deliver food through online platforms. It issued 60 improvement notices and ordered the temporary stoppage of operations at one facility.
