15 August,2026 05:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe said that Independence Day should also be an opportunity to think about the quality and safety of the food people eat. File Pic
On Independence Day 2026, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has called for "independence" in the food people consume, saying food should be healthy, safe and of good quality rather than simply tasty, reported the PTI.
Speaking to reporters on Independence Day, Mundhe said the quality of food has a direct impact on public health and the country's development.
Mundhe said that Independence Day should also be an opportunity to think about the quality and safety of the food people eat.
He said people should have access to food that is healthy, standardised and safe, rather than focusing only on taste, according to the PTI.
He stressed that making healthier food choices could contribute to better public health.
Mundhe said good health among citizens would ultimately benefit the country, the news agency reported.
He linked food safety and healthy eating with the wider development of India, saying that if people remain healthy consistently, the country can progress further.
His comments came as Maharashtra marked Independence Day, with the FDA continuing its focus on food safety and public health.
Meanwhile, last week, Mundhe had on Saturday shared his views on the younger generation, urging Gen Z to follow its own aspirations and conscience rather than simply following the crowd.
"Do not blindly follow others. Learn the good qualities from everyone, but create your own identity," he said.
He encouraged young people to take an active role in bringing about positive changes in society rather than simply "drifting with the current".
The FDA chief also cautioned young people about excessive use of digital platforms.
He said the younger generation's attention span had reduced while daily screen time had increased.
"In the digital age, the attention span of the younger generation has come down to around eight seconds, while screen time has increased to eight or nine hours," he said, as per the PTI.
Mundhe urged young people not to spend excessive time scrolling through social media reels and instead focus on learning, thinking, hard work and developing their own identity.
Mundhe said frequent transfers do not bother him, describing them as opportunities to bring about positive changes, reported the PTI.
Speaking at an event in Maharashtra's Pune, the senior IAS officer said he viewed transfers as part of professional life and a chance to make a difference wherever he was posted.
Mundhe, who is regarded as an upright civil servant, has been transferred more than two dozen times during his career of over two decades.
Asked about his repeated transfers, he said they did not trouble him.
"Frequent transfers do not trouble me. In fact, change is an integral part of progress. The more transfers I have, the more opportunities I get to bring about positive changes," he said, the news agency reported.
Since taking charge as Maharashtra FDA commissioner, Mundhe has launched a statewide enforcement drive against food adulteration, poor hygiene and businesses operating without the required licences.
He said the department would not compromise on matters concerning public health.
"Adulterated food, poisonous liquor and substandard food products are putting people's health at risk," he said, according to the PTI.
Mundhe said that the FDA had also introduced a toll-free number for citizens to report complaints and was receiving a positive response.
(with PTI inputs)
