FWICE has urged Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration to conduct surprise inspections at film and television shooting locations over concerns about poor food quality, hygiene and unsafe working conditions.
MUMBAI: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has raised concerns over the quality and hygiene of food served to workers, technicians and artists at film, television and digital production sets across Mumbai.
The federation has approached the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and called for surprise inspections of catering facilities and kitchens operating at shooting locations.
Complaints Over Poor-Quality Food
According to FWICE, it has received complaints over several years about stale, undercooked and unhygienically prepared food being served on production sets.
The federation said the issue is particularly concerning because workers, technicians and artists often spend long hours at shooting locations and depend on on-site catering for their meals.
FWICE General Secretary Ashok Dubey said workers in the entertainment industry deserve safe, hygienic and nutritious food at their workplaces.
“Workers, technicians and artists spend long hours on shooting locations, and they should receive safe, hygienic and nutritious food at their workplace. This is a basic necessity, not a luxury,” Dubey said.
FWICE Seeks Surprise Raids
The federation has written to Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, requesting surprise inspections at Film City in Goregaon as well as other film and television shooting locations in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
FWICE has asked FDA officials to inspect:
- Kitchens and food preparation areas
- Food storage facilities
- Catering operations
- Hygiene and sanitation standards
- Compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
The federation has also requested officials to collect food samples from locations where food is suspected to be unsafe, adulterated or unfit for consumption.
Action Against Violators Sought
FWICE has urged the FDA to take appropriate action against producers, caterers or agencies found violating food safety regulations.
Dubey said the issue concerns the health, dignity and well-being of the people who keep the entertainment industry functioning.
The federation has also assured the FDA of its cooperation during any inspections and urged the department to intervene promptly.
If implemented, surprise inspections could bring greater accountability to on-set catering and food safety practices across Mumbai’s large film and television production ecosystem.
