FWICE urges FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe to act on film set food safety
Synopsis
India's largest film workers' federation has escalated a years-long grievance directly to Maharashtra's most high-profile IAS officer: stale food, open-air meals in the heat and rain, and zero sanitation on Bollywood sets. The FWICE letter to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe is a test of whether his enforcement reputation extends beyond conventional food outlets to the entertainment industry's sprawling, largely unregulated catering chain.
Key Takeaways
FWICE formally wrote to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on 13 August demanding action on food safety at film and TV shooting locations.
Complaints allege stale, poorly cooked, and hygienically compromised meals served to crew at shooting sets across Mumbai .
Workers reportedly eat in open areas with no designated dining spaces, inadequate seating, and poor sanitation at many locations.
FWICE has requested surprise inspections at Film City, Goregaon and other production hubs for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
The federation says repeated representations to the Labour Department over the years yielded no effective action.
FWICE has offered full cooperation to the FDA in facilitating inspections and sharing information.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has formally written to Tukaram Mundhe, IAS officer and Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, urging him to crack down on persistent food safety violations at film, television, and digital content shooting locations across Mumbai and its surrounding areas. The letter, dated 13 August, calls for surprise inspections at major production hubs including Film City, Goregaon.
What FWICE Has Alleged
According to the letter, FWICE has been receiving complaints from affiliated unions for several years about stale, poorly cooked, nutritionally inadequate, and hygienically compromised food being served to workers on shooting sets. The body states that meals are frequently prepared in unsanitary conditions, posing direct health risks to crew members who routinely work long, physically demanding shifts.
'For several years, FWICE has been receiving numerous complaints from its affiliated unions and members regarding the pathetic, unhygienic and substandard quality of food being served by several film, television and digital content producers during shootings,' the letter reads.
Infrastructure Gaps on Set
Beyond food quality, FWICE has flagged a near-total absence of basic dining infrastructure at many locations. Workers are reportedly compelled to eat in open areas exposed to dust, heat, and rain, with no designated dining spaces, inadequate seating, insufficient clean drinking water, and poor sanitation facilities. The federation describes these conditions as 'wholly unacceptable and far below the standards expected at any organised workplace.'
What Action Has Been Demanded
FWICE has specifically requested Commissioner Mundhe to direct his officers to inspect kitchens, food preparation units, food storage facilities, and catering arrangements at shooting locations for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Where food is found unsafe, adulterated, or unfit for consumption, the body has asked that samples be collected and strict action initiated against the responsible producers, caterers, or agencies.
The federation has also urged the FDA to issue binding directions to all production houses and catering agencies to maintain proper hygiene, food safety standards, and basic dignity for workers at every shooting location.
Why This Matters
Despite repeated representations to the Labour Department and other government authorities over the years, FWICE says no effective action has been taken. The federation represents technicians, artists, and workers who form the operational backbone of India's Media and Entertainment Industry — a sector that generates content consumed by millions nationally. The body has offered full cooperation to the FDA in facilitating inspections and providing any information required.
Commissioner Mundhe has drawn wide public attention in recent months for his assertive enforcement approach across Maharashtra. Whether his office extends that focus to the entertainment industry's supply chain will be closely watched by industry workers and labour groups alike.
Point of View
But surprise inspections at Film City will mean little without a permanent compliance framework binding producers and caterers contractually. The entertainment industry's catering supply chain is largely invisible to regulators, and a one-time crackdown risks becoming a photo opportunity rather than structural reform. The deeper question is why food safety on sets — a workplace welfare issue — has had to travel from the Labour Department to the FDA at all.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has FWICE demanded from FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe?
FWICE has urged Commissioner Mundhe to order surprise inspections of kitchens, food storage units, and catering arrangements at film and TV shooting locations in Mumbai, including Film City, Goregaon. The federation also wants the FDA to issue binding directions to production houses and caterers to maintain hygiene standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What food safety issues are being reported on film and TV sets?
FWICE says workers are being served stale, poorly cooked, and nutritionally inadequate meals prepared in unhygienic conditions. Workers also reportedly lack designated dining areas, clean drinking water, adequate seating, and proper sanitation at many shooting locations.
Who is Tukaram Mundhe and why was he approached?
Tukaram Mundhe is an IAS officer serving as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra. He has drawn statewide attention for his assertive enforcement approach, making him the federation's preferred point of escalation after years of unresolved complaints to the Labour Department.
Why has FWICE escalated this issue now?
According to the federation, repeated complaints to the Labour Department and other government authorities over several years produced no effective action. FWICE says workers, technicians, and artists continue to be denied safe food and basic dining facilities despite ongoing representations.
Which law governs food safety at shooting locations?
FWICE has invoked the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it, as the applicable legal framework for inspecting and regulating food served at film and television production sites.
