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Tukaram Munde: 'The issue here is food safety and standards'In an exclusive interview, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner of Maharashtra, Tukaram Munde, addressed the regulatory action taken against restaurants operating within the ISKCON complex in Juhu, Mumbai, as well as railway catering vendors. Responding to public reactions regarding the suspension of licenses, Munde maintained that the department operates without bias toward any religion, culture, or institution, stating, "The issue here is food safety and standards, nothing less, nothing more." He clarified that FDA actions are based entirely on compliance with food safety legislation established since 2011. Munde detailed a comprehensive four-stage standing operating procedure implemented across the year to inspect raw materials, vendor kitchens, and food quality during festivals. Highlighting the department's enforcement over the past 100 days, he noted that over 12,000 food inspections and 2,300 drug sector visits were conducted, issuing thousands of improvement notices and suspending hundreds of non-compliant licenses to foster a culture of compliance and safeguard public health.