Maharashtra FDA Launches AI Voice Portal to Report Food Adulteration and Fake Drugs
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an artificial intelligence-enabled grievance redressal portal in Mumbai to allow citizens to report cases of food adulteration, fake medicines, and substandard drugs. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced the initiative, which introduces a simplified, voice-based complaint system designed to improve accountability and speed up action against safety violations.
According to the Maharashtra FDA, the portal has been designed to make the complaint registration process more accessible to the public while ensuring faster action against violations related to food and drug safety.
One of the key features of the new platform is that citizens can lodge complaints simply by speaking instead of filling out lengthy forms. The AI-enabled system accepts spoken complaints in Marathi, Hindi, and English. Once a user speaks, the system automatically converts the voice recording into a structured written format and submits it directly to the department.
The portal, which is accessible online at complaints.mahafda.in, also enables users to track the status of their complaints after submission. The backend system includes automatic assignment of complaints to the appropriate officer and an auto-escalation feature if action is not taken within a stipulated timeframe. It also features built-in accountability mechanisms and complete traceability throughout the grievance redressal process.
The launch of the digital portal comes amid an intensified statewide enforcement drive led by Mundhe since he took charge as the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner. The department has carried out multiple raids against food adulteration, fake medicines, illegal cosmetics, and unsafe food products across the state.
During these enforcement operations, the Maharashtra FDA has seized adulterated milk, illegal cosmetics, and unlicensed Ayurvedic medicines. Additionally, the department has suspended the licences of food establishments found violating food safety norms. The department has also stepped up its surveillance of high-risk food categories, particularly milk and dairy products, to strengthen consumer safety.
