After taking on adulterated paneer, adulterated milk, edible oil and unhygienic restaurants, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde has now turned his attention to nutraceuticals.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai on Friday, Munde described the FDA’s findings on nutraceuticals so far as “disturbing”. He said these products are often consumed without a prescription and raised concerns over misleading claims and their actual contents.
“Products claim to contain an ingredient that is not actually there. There are many ill effects, the claims are misleading, and consumption is not as it should be,” Munde said.
When asked what the FDA would consider during its inspection of nutraceuticals, Munde said, “Everything: content, consumption, prescription, selling.”
According to the latest statistics, India’s dietary supplement market was valued at Rs 20,146 crore previously and is projected to reach Rs 57,262 crore in another eight years, registering a growth of nearly 12%.
Nutraceuticals order to follow infant food, school food measures
The sequence of the FDA’s actions is deliberate, with the department attempting to cover one age group at a time. The order on nutraceuticals will follow the FDA’s measures concerning food in schools and infant food.
“We have to focus on younger ages, because food habits form at the beginning,” Munde said.
He added that the infant food order, which includes infant milk substitutes, covers children up to the age of two. Meanwhile, the restrictions on foods high in fat, salt and sugar in schools and within 50 metres of them cover children aged 2 to 18.
Munde defends FDA’s festival food order
Reacting to the recent backlash over the FDA’s festival food order, Munde said the department was not targeting any particular festival or community.
“I am not touching your festivals. I am touching food, which is my jurisdiction,” he said, describing the order as “religion-neutral, culture-neutral”.
During Ganpati, the FDA seized about 6.3 lakh kg of suspected food products worth around Rs 9.76 crore.
Munde responds to criticism over raid videos
Following recent notices issued to restaurants, the FDA’s practice of releasing photographs and videos of its raids has been criticised as potentially defamatory.
Munde defended the practice, saying that not releasing such material could lead to allegations of a cover-up.
“My purpose is not to paint anybody black or white. It is to let people know what is happening,” he said.
Four months into his posting in Maharashtra, Munde has reportedly been transferred 25 times during his 21-year career.
Munde responds to allegations of extortion
Earlier, in a letter dated September 27, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut alleged that active officials were threatening hotels, restaurants and quick-commerce firms with licence suspensions to extort money.
Responding to the allegation, Munde said he would investigate if specific details were provided.
“Give me the details and I will investigate. I am serious about it,” he said. “If I am to initiate action, I should know who did what. Without that I am building castles in the air.”