Celebrity chef and television personality Ranveer Brar has urged Indian home cooks to return to their neighbourhood vegetable markets and cut reliance on quick-commerce apps, saying that freshness and food safety begin with how and where ingredients are sourced. Brar made the remarks on 29 September 2026 during promotional activities for his new streaming quiz show 'Yes Chef' in the Andheri West area of Mumbai.

What Ranveer Brar Said

Speaking to reporters, Brar said that the rise of 10-minute delivery apps has eroded a long-standing culture of buying directly from local mandis and vegetable carts. 'I believe that first of all, do your own shopping from local markets. That is very important if we talk about freshness. All of us have stopped going to the vegetable market. The 10-minute apps have changed the culture of shopping from vegetable markets. When you see fresh vegetables on the whole cart, you understand the value of fresh food. Even if you get a small packet of cabbage, you don't enjoy it,' he said.

Brar added that quick-commerce platforms serve a purpose in emergencies but should not replace the practice of buying fresh. 'Last minute apps are fine in an emergency, but it is very important to go to the market and buy fresh vegetables,' he noted. He also offered a practical tip on reducing refrigerator clutter: cooking only as much food as is needed immediately, so that fewer leftovers pile up and mental stress around managing them is reduced. 'The refrigerator is equivalent to the tension in the mind,' he said.

Food Safety Context in Maharashtra

Brar's comments arrive against the backdrop of a sweeping food-safety crackdown across Maharashtra. IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, who currently serves as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Maharashtra, has emerged as the driving force behind the state's intensified enforcement drive since taking charge in May 2026.

Under Mundhe's watch, statewide inspections have targeted food adulteration, unhygienic establishments, illegal products, and violations across the supply chain. The campaign has placed particular emphasis on milk adulteration, with synthetic milk units reportedly uncovered and tighter scrutiny ordered across dairies, distributors, and retailers.

Maharashtra's Crackdown on Artificial Cheese and Paneer

The Maharashtra FDA has also moved against eateries and food manufacturers found in violation of safety norms. In a notable recent action, the state issued a ban on the manufacture and sale of artificial cheese, with strict penalties promised against products misrepresented as dairy paneer. Authorities have described the adulteration of everyday dairy products as a direct threat to public health.

Notably, food safety has emerged as a recurring concern at the national level, with multiple states reporting enforcement actions and consumer groups flagging gaps in supply-chain oversight.

About 'Yes Chef' and Ranveer Brar

Brar's new streaming show 'Yes Chef' has been drawing favourable early responses, with the chef-turned-host channelling his culinary expertise into a quiz format. The show is currently in active promotion across Mumbai. Brar is widely recognised for his work on food travel and cookery programming and has long advocated for ingredient-first cooking rooted in local produce.

With food safety regulators tightening their grip and public awareness rising, Brar's call to revisit local markets may resonate beyond kitchens — connecting a lifestyle choice to a broader public health imperative.