The Mundhe Effect: Junk Out, Health In

Some call it the ‘Mundhe Effect’ others call it the much-need whiplashing from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recent crackdown on unhygienic eateries, elite clubs, famous restaurants and canteens by Maharashtra’s FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe (aka Singham) and his team has sent alarm bells ringing across the country.

The Maharashtra FDA has directed school canteens to STOP selling chocolates, sugary beverages, chips, biscuits and other ultra-processed junk foods to students. The FDA order makes one thing clear: All schools, government, aided and private are to enforce nutrition standards. It states that menus at school canteens MUST proactively feature fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and dairy. “The order is out. Now we are focusing on strict implementation,” says Mundhe.

Many parents, doctors and public health experts across India believe the move is excellent and was long overdue. Children's health must come before convenience and commercial interests. Period!

However, some people have accused the FDA of high-handedness and extending “VIP treatment” to some establishments. Terming these allegations as baseless, Mundhe says, “There is no iscrimination against anybody.”

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Mundhe pointed out that the latest FSSAI Act 2026, Section 30, sub clause 2, section A and its proviso has given the designated officer powers to proceed with immediate suspension if they find it poses grave danger to public health. “Those who are unhappy can always file an appeal before the Food Safety Commissioner (me),” he quips.

Food For Thought

For years, the food sold and given to children has hidden in plain sight – brightly coloured chocolates, sugary drinks, deep-fried snacks and processed treats. They have become a part of everyday school life, often replacing balanced meals. “The FDA cracking down on unhygienic eateries as well as restrictions on the sale of chocolates, biscuits and other junk food in school canteens serve as crucial regulatory interventions from a health perspective,” says Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, a Paediatrician & School Activist from Hyderabad.

The FDA sent notices and sealed several famous restaurants, eateries, elite clubs and government canteens in Mumbai for serious violations of food safety norms. The inspections have focused not merely on cleanliness but on the quality of ingredients, storage practices, rodent infestations, cooking oil standards and overall compliance with food safety regulations.

Back To School

“Schools must replace processed junk with deeply nourishing traditional Indian snacks that provide a biological protein anchor,” says Ankita Gupta, Dietician & Founder of Nutrition Matters, from Delhi. She suggests schools introduce traditional Indian snacks such as roasted makhana, paneer-stuffed besan chilla, sprouted moong chaat, roasted kala chana, fresh fruit, and homemade sandwiches. Food that combines protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates help keep blood sugar levels stable, preventing sudden energy crashes while improving satiety, concentration and overall classroom performance.

Point being, children spend nearly one-third of their waking hours in school. The food environment they encounter there inevitably shapes their eating habits. Parents may carefully prepare nutritious meals at home, but those efforts can quickly be undermined if children have unrestricted access to chocolates, wafers, sugar-laden beverages and fried snacks during school hours.

What’s Cooking Parents

While schools have a responsibility to provide healthier food environments, experts point out that parents also play a significant role in shaping a child's eating habits. Dr Sivaranjani opines that building healthy eating habits is a shared responsibility between parents, schools and the food industry. She says, “Many parents still dismiss frequent chocolates, candies and sugary treats with the mindset of, “We grew up eating them too.”

Today’s children are exposed to processed foods far more often than previous generations, making occasional indulgences an everyday habit. Birthdays, parties and rewards have increasingly become centred around sugary foods. Online food delivery has made unhealthy choices more accessible than ever. Dr Sivaranjani encourages parents to make simple, home-cooked meals the default, and reserve desserts or takeaway food as occasional treats rather than routine meals.

Schools also have a crucial role to play. While many educational institutions promote healthy eating, some continue to offer burgers, doughnuts, milkshakes and other ultra-processed foods as regular menu items. Dr. Sivaranjani quips, “School meals should resemble the kind of balanced, home-cooked food children receive at home, with adequate proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals to support healthy growth.”

Laws For All

By inspecting not only private restaurants but also government canteens, including those operating within the Bombay High Court premises, the Maharashtra FDA has sent a clear message that food safety standards must be enforced uniformly, irrespective of who runs the kitchen.

Adv Likitha Muralidhar Avare, a Legal advisor & lawyer says, “For regulators, the message is to ensure uniform compliance and transparent enforcement. For food business operators, it serves as a reminder that adherence to food safety standards is a continuing legal obligation rather than a one-time compliance exercise”

Adv. Likitha says that regulating the sale of ultra-processed foods in school canteens should not be seen as a ban on businesses, but as a public health measure designed to create a healthier food environment for children. Schools are more than just centres of learning. They are spaces where lifelong habits take shape.

Healthy Food Environment

The FDA crackdown raises a larger question: What kind of food environment are we creating for the next generation? When ultra-processed foods become a child's everyday normal, the consequences extend far beyond obesity. They shape lifelong eating habits, health outcomes and even the burden on the country's healthcare system.

Ankita advises parents to educate children on the concept of ‘food pairing’. She explains, “Teach them to pair food rather than restrict calories by having their carbohydrates with a portion of protein to keep their energy stable.” She adds, “For food businesses, the mandate is simple: return to the ancestral wisdom of Ghar ka Khana.”

But lasting change begins at home, in lunchboxes packed with care, in everyday food choices, and in the collective willingness of parents, educators, businesses and policymakers to place children's health above convenience and profit. Because the choices we make for children today will quietly shape the adults and the nation they become tomorrow!

Singham Ala Re!

• Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe (aka Singham) for his strict, no-nonsense administrative style and emphasis on accountability.

• Has held numerous significant positions, including District Collector and Municipal Commissioner.

• He has won several awards such as the Excellence in Governance Award and the National Award for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in 2017.

• He has been transferred 25 times for exposing graft and not taking bribes.