Mumbai FDA Inspectors Protest VIP Food Tasting Duty After Doctors Pull Out
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food inspectors in Mumbai are protesting against a government protocol that forces them to act as food tasters at VIP events, raising safety concerns and complaining of severe operational strain. The issue has intensified following recent high-profile deployments, including the wedding of NCP SP MP Supriya Sule’s daughter Revati in Mumbai, and the recent successful withdrawal of state doctors from JJ Hospital in Byculla from the same duties.
Under the current protocol mandated by the General Administration Department and the Ministry of Protocol, FDA inspectors and local police constables must taste every item on the menu before VIPs eat. After tasting, inspectors must collect, seal, and store food samples in police records for 72 hours.
FDA officials have questioned the ethics and safety of the mandate, with one senior official asking if they are "guinea pigs to be experimented on." Inspectors also complained that no travel arrangements are provided for these assignments.
The tasting duties cover a wide range of public figures, including opposition leader MP Rahul Gandhi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The deployments are not limited to large events like weddings; they also cover routine VIP arrivals and departures at airport lounges.
The protocol has caused major operational delays. With four inspectors unavailable for three to four days a week, routine food safety inspections are routinely delayed. Some VIP assignments can last up to 13 days.
Until recently, medical teams from state-run hospitals, including JJ Hospital in Byculla and St George's Hospital, were also required to taste the food. However, the medical teams resisted the mandate, arguing their primary responsibility is patient care. Sanjay Surase, the medical superintendent at JJ Hospital, confirmed that an official written order exempting doctors was issued just over a week ago.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe stated that inspectors must act according to the protocols set by the government, adding that he has not yet received any official representation on the matter from his officers. Protocol Secretary Rajesh Gawande did not respond to queries regarding VIP eligibility for the food-tasting services.
