Indian Regulators Conduct 24,000 Raids in Food Hygiene Crackdown

Indian food regulators have launched a massive nationwide crackdown on food hygiene, conducting more than 24,000 raids since April. The campaign targets a wide spectrum of the industry, including five-star hotels, fast-food chains, and quick-commerce warehouses. The surge in enforcement was sparked by the appointment of Tukaram Mundhe as commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration and followed viral social media reports of pest infestations and expired ingredients.

State and central agencies, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, have suspended operations and seized unfit products across several regions. In Gujarat, the capital city mandated that 11,000 food establishments install kitchen cameras, while regulators in Jammu and Kashmir banned specific batches of ghee. Packaged-food company Dabur has begun phasing out misleading labels after being targeted by regulators.

The crackdown comes amid global scrutiny, including import bans on Indian products by Japan and Singapore. While regulators emphasize the need for accountability, the National Restaurants Association of India has criticized the tactics as naming and shaming, urging the government to adopt a more collaborative approach to food safety.