The Maharashtra , led by , whose crackdown on poor hygiene and unsafe food has drawn massive attention, issued a directive mandating that packaged infant food carry the warning “Mother’s Milk Is Best For Your Baby”, according to a report by NDTV Profit.
The food safety commissioner said the FDA conducted surveys across Maharashtra and found that packaged food products were not complying with mandatory requirements. One of the major violations was the absence of a warning stating that breastfeeding is recommended.
Mundhe said manufacturers must comply with the provisions of the Infant Food Regulation Act and related rules, according to the NDTV Profit report.
According to the publication, the warning must be displayed on infant food products, including supplementary foods and cereals intended for children up to two years of age.
The report added that the order does not impose a ban on formula milk. Formula products will continue to be available for sale, provided manufacturers comply with the regulatory requirements laid down by the authorities.
Mundhe cited data showing that breastfeeding rates in Maharashtra are higher in rural areas, at 75.2%, compared with 52.8% in urban parts of the state.
According to the report, he raised concerns over the figures for urban areas, saying they indicate that a significant proportion of mothers in the western state’s cities do not breastfeed their infants.
Mundhe said supplementary foods should be introduced to babies only after they turn six months old. He also said infant food packaging should not feature images of mothers or babies.
The compliance rules further prohibit companies from advertising or promoting infant food products.
The 51-year-old bureaucrat’s team has raided more than 3,000 food businesses in Mumbai since taking over as Maharashtra’s food safety chief in May, according to a Reuters report.
He has led to the suspension of several US food chains, including Domino’s, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s, and has also targeted cricket clubs, hotels and well-known restaurants.
On Monday, Mundhe led a team that suspended the food licence of Mumbai’s iconic 122-year-old Irani cafe Kyani & Co after an inspection reportedly revealed multiple hygiene and food safety violations.
Officials found cats, rat droppings, live flies and dead cockroaches in areas used for food preparation and storage, according to PTI.
FDA Commissioner Mundhe had said that authorities would maintain strict enforcement and pursue legal action against establishments involved in selling or storing expired or tampered food products, as well as food prepared or handled in unhygienic conditions.
