India, July 13 -- In a state where public institutions are increasingly judged by what they fail to do rather than what they achieve, an officer simply doing his job can appear extraordinary.

Since taking charge as Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner on May 25, Tukaram Mundhe has put food safety firmly back on the public agenda. In less than two months, the FDA has conducted raids across the state on manufacturers, wholesalers, eateries and retailers dealing in everything from paneer, sweets and spices to edible oils, packaged foods and meat products. Samples have been seized, licences suspended, notices issued, and businesses temporarily shut where serious violations were found.

The latest focus has been milk ...