Maharashtra food commissioner Tukaram Mundhe urges ethical nutrition standards from food companies
Maharashtra Food Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has questioned why food and beverage companies follow different nutrition standards in India and overseas, calling on them to go beyond regulatory compliance and act more ethically
His remarks come amid a growing debate over differences in the ingredients, recipes and labelling of products sold by multinational companies in different markets. A Reuters report highlighting these variations has drawn criticism from consumers and health experts
One example cited in the report is Fanta. A can sold in London contains 63 calories, while the same-sized product in India contains 185 calories and three times as much sugar
Responding to the findings, Mundhe said companies should consider their wider responsibility rather than simply meeting the legal requirements of each market
“Where are ethics in this? Companies should not only abide with legal compliances but also practice ethical behaviour. Why the different standard,” Mundhe told Reuters on Friday
“They have responsibility towards society,” he added
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle, major companies in India’s food and drinks market, did not respond to requests for comment on Mundhe’s remarks
Mundhe has emerged as a prominent food safety official in Maharashtra, where enforcement teams have recently carried out inspections and raids at establishments ranging from smaller businesses to major chains. Domino’s and McDonald’s were among those inspected, with some outlets shut over hygiene-related violations
The controversy also covers proposed front-of-pack warning labels in India. Reuters reported that Coca-Cola and industry groups representing Nestle, PepsiCo and other companies successfully opposed plans for such warnings, although the companies have voluntarily used similar labels in several European markets
At a tense meeting in March, a Coca-Cola executive reportedly argued that warning labels would not stop consumers from eating sugary foods and said Indian doctors were already doing a good job of advising patients about what to avoid
Mundhe challenged that position in a LinkedIn post sharing the Reuters report
“Warning labels don’t insult consumer intelligence, they respect it.”
“The argument that doctors already advise patients misses the point: prevention should not depend on already being sick,” he wrote
The Supreme Court has criticised delays by the Centre in introducing front-of-pack labelling and called for the system to be implemented urgently
Nestle’s global CEO, meanwhile, said this week that India should consult manufacturers while framing health-labelling rules for food and drinks, arguing that the regulations should be developed on a scientific basis
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First Published on August 28, 2026, 18:13:52 IST
