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Maha FDA launches country's first AI-powered grievance portal
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Saturday, 18 July, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
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In a first-of-its-kind initiative to strengthen food safety surveillance through technology, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered grievance portal that enables citizens to report food adulteration, unsafe food products and other food safety violations through a multilingual, voice-enabled digital platform.
Describing the initiative as a major step towards technology-driven and citizen-centric food safety governance, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that the AI-enabled platform has been developed to make food safety grievance redressal more accessible, transparent and efficient while strengthening regulatory enforcement across the state.
"This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country designed to address the current challenges in food regulation through artificial intelligence. As food supply chains become more complex and public expectations increase, technology has to become an integral part of governance. Our objective is to provide citizens with a simple, transparent and technology-driven platform to report food safety violations while enabling the department to respond more efficiently and effectively," Mundhe told www.fnbnews.com.
The portal allows consumers to register complaints related to food adulteration, unsafe food products, misbranding, hygiene issues and other food safety matters under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra FDA. Designed to encourage wider public participation, the platform supports complaint registration in Marathi, Hindi and English, making it accessible to people across the state.
One of the key features of the portal is its voice-based complaint registration system. In addition to typing complaints, consumers can narrate their grievances, after which the AI engine converts the information into a structured complaint and forwards it to the concerned Food Safety Officer for verification and further action.
According to Mundhe, artificial intelligence is expected to significantly improve the quality and speed of food safety enforcement by simplifying complaint registration and ensuring that reports are directed to the appropriate enforcement officials without delay.
"Artificial intelligence helps simplify complaint registration, improves the quality of information received and ensures that complaints are routed to the appropriate enforcement authority for prompt verification and action. It will strengthen surveillance, improve accountability and make the grievance redressal system more responsive," he said.
The portal also enables complainants to track the progress of their complaints online, enhancing transparency throughout the grievance redressal process. Every complaint received through the platform will be verified by the designated Food Safety Officer, and wherever violations are established, action will be initiated under the provisions of food safety laws.
Mundhe said the initiative reflects the Maharashtra FDA's broader vision of leveraging emerging technologies to enhance food safety governance and protect public health. He emphasised that the platform is not merely a digital complaint mechanism but a smart regulatory tool that encourages citizens to actively participate in identifying food safety risks.
"This is not merely a digital platform but a smart regulatory tool that encourages active citizen participation. Every complaint from a vigilant citizen can help detect violations early, prevent public health risks and strengthen the integrity of the food supply chain," he said.
Appealing to consumers across Maharashtra, Mundhe urged citizens to actively report incidents of food adulteration, unsafe food products and other food safety irregularities instead of ignoring them.
"The participation of citizens is crucial in making the food safety system more efficient, accountable and effective. Food safety cannot be ensured by regulators alone. Citizens are our partners in protecting public health, and this AI-powered platform provides them with an easy and accessible mechanism to contribute to that effort," he added.
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