Pune has emerged as the district with the highest number of complaints related to unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state launched its online food safety complaint portal. The revelation has prompted authorities to intensify efforts to improve hygiene standards across food establishments and strengthen enforcement of food safety regulations.
Officials believe the growing number of complaints reflects increased public awareness as well as greater use of the digital platform to report food safety concerns.
Pune Tops the List of Food Safety Complaints
According to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune has received the largest share of complaints registered through the state’s online complaint portal. Most of these complaints relate to unhygienic food preparation, poor sanitation and violations of food safety norms at restaurants, hotels and other food businesses.
The online portal was introduced to provide citizens with an easier and more transparent way to report food-related issues directly to the authorities.
Complaints to Be Addressed Within 24 Hours
To improve accountability, the FDA has implemented a system that requires complaints to be acted upon within 24 hours. If action is not taken within the specified period, the complaint is automatically escalated to senior officials for further intervention.
Authorities say the mechanism is designed to ensure faster responses and prevent delays in addressing public health concerns.
Food Businesses Urged to Improve Hygiene Standards
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has appealed to hotels, restaurants and food establishments to strictly comply with food safety regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Business owners have been advised to maintain clean kitchens, follow proper food handling practices and implement food safety management systems to minimise health risks for consumers.
The commissioner emphasised that maintaining hygiene is not only a legal requirement but also essential for protecting public health and building consumer trust.
Digital Monitoring to Strengthen Food Safety
The online complaint portal forms part of Maharashtra’s broader effort to modernise food safety monitoring through technology. By enabling citizens to directly report violations, authorities hope to identify problem areas more quickly and take timely enforcement action.
Officials believe that greater public participation, combined with stricter inspections and faster grievance redressal, will encourage higher standards of hygiene across the state’s food industry.
The initiative also aims to create greater transparency by ensuring every complaint is tracked until appropriate action is taken.
Summary
Pune has recorded the highest number of complaints about unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the launch of the state’s online food safety complaint portal. Most complaints involve poor hygiene and sanitation at food establishments. The FDA has introduced a 24-hour response mechanism and urged businesses to strictly follow food safety standards to protect consumer health.
