Mumbai's vast film, television, and digital production industry is facing scrutiny over food safety and hygiene practices on its sets. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), representing over five lakh technicians, workers, and artists, has formally appealed to Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, requesting immediate intervention.
FWICE Flags Unhygienic Conditions
In a letter dated August 11, FWICE detailed numerous long-standing complaints regarding the quality of food served to ground-level crew. General Secretary Ashok Dubey highlighted that meals provided on shooting locations are frequently stale, poorly cooked, and nutritionally inadequate. Furthermore, the food is often prepared in unhygienic conditions, posing significant health risks to workers who endure long hours under physically demanding circumstances.
Poor Dining Facilities Exacerbate Issues
Beyond the food itself, FWICE also brought attention to the severe lack of basic dining infrastructure on many Mumbai sets, including prominent locations like Film City in Goregaon. Crew members are reportedly forced to eat in open areas, exposed to dust, heat, and rain. Many sites lack designated dining spaces, adequate seating, clean drinking water, and proper sanitation, which the federation deems unacceptable for any organized workplace.
This starkly contrasts with the provisions for lead actors, directors, and department heads, who typically receive meals via private vanity vans or specialized caterers. Daily-wage technicians, spot boys, lightmen, setting workers, and background artists largely depend on the bulk catering provided by production houses, making them particularly vulnerable to these substandard conditions.
FDA Commissioner Mundhe's Statewide Crackdown
The appeal to Commissioner Mundhe comes at a time when he is spearheading an aggressive, statewide food safety crackdown. Dubbed the 'New Singham of Mumbai' by some, Mundhe's FDA has conducted extensive inspections across Maharashtra, targeting hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, and canteens.
Between May 25 and July 31, the department inspected 3,137 food establishments, issuing 764 improvement notices and suspending 165 licenses. This drive led to the seizure or destruction of unsafe food products valued at an estimated ₹55.72 crore. High-profile actions included the suspension of licenses for five elite Mumbai clubs and several IIT Bombay canteens.
FWICE has requested the FDA to conduct unannounced inspections of major production floors across Mumbai. They urge the examination of food storage, preparation units, and catering arrangements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The federation emphasized that previous attempts to address these issues with the Labour Department and other regulators have failed to yield effective action, leaving countless workers deprived of their basic right to safe and hygienic food at their workplaces.