Film Body Urges FDA Chief Tukaram Mundhe to Raid Bollywood Film Sets Over Unhygienic Food, Unsafe Working Conditions

The ongoing statewide food safety crackdown led by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reached the gates of Mumbai’s film studios.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) — the apex trade body representing over five lakh technicians, workers, and artists across 38 affiliated crafts — has officially written to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, urging the regulatory authority to launch surprise inspections, hygiene audits, and food sampling across shooting locations in Mumbai.

The petition comes amidst Mundhe’s high-decibel enforcement drive in Maharashtra, which has seen commercial kitchens, institutional canteens, and eateries audited or sealed over severe food safety non-compliance.

While top-tier lead stars, directors, and Heads of Departments (HoDs) on film sets are traditionally serviced by private vanity vans and specialised personal caterers, the vast majority of ground-level crew — including lightmen, spot boys, setting workers, and background artists — remain at the mercy of bulk production catering.

The union alleges that these working-class crews are routinely subjected to stale, poorly cooked food prepared in substandard conditions, alongside a total absence of basic dining infrastructure.

'Stale, Poorly Cooked, Nutritionally Inadequate': FWICE Calls Out On-Set Catering

In a formal letter sent on August 11, FWICE pointed to the stark disparity and severe health risks faced by daily-wage technicians working continuous, grueling shifts on sets across Film City (Goregaon) and surrounding production hubs.

"For several years, FWICE has been receiving numerous complaints from its affiliated unions and members regarding the pathetic, unhygienic and substandard quality of food being served by several film, television and digital content producers during shootings," FWICE General Secretary Ashok Dubey wrote in the letter.

"The meals supplied at shooting locations are often stale, poorly cooked, nutritionally inadequate and prepared in unhygienic conditions. Such food poses a serious risk to the health and safety of our members, who are required to work continuously for long hours under physically demanding conditions."

The federation stressed that despite taking the issue to regulatory bodies in the past, crew members continue to be denied basic human dignity on set.

"Despite repeatedly bringing these issues to the notice of the Labour Department and other concerned Government authorities, regrettably, no effective action has been taken," the letter noted. "Consequently, scores of workers, technicians and artists continue to suffer and remain deprived of their basic right to safe, hygienic and wholesome food while at their workplace."

The Void in Infrastructure

Beyond the quality of the food itself, FWICE highlighted the systemic neglect when it comes to basic dining facilities for ground-level crew members.

"At several shooting locations, workers are compelled to have their lunch or dinner in open areas exposed to dust, heat, rain and unhygienic surroundings," the letter read. "In many instances, there are no designated dining areas, inadequate seating arrangements, lack of clean drinking water and poor sanitation facilities. Such conditions are wholly unacceptable and fall far below the standards expected at any organised workplace."

Calling for direct state intervention, the trade body urged Commissioner Mundhe's office to initiate unannounced raids across Mumbai's primary production floors. FWICE also requested that officers inspect food storage, preparation units, and catering setups in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Highlighting the vital role of technicians, the letter concluded: "The workers, technicians and artists of our industry are the backbone of the Media & Entertainment Industry... it is deeply unfortunate that they are denied even the basic dignity of safe and hygienic food and decent facilities to consume their meals."

The petition to the FDA chief lands at a time when labour practices across Hindi cinema and streaming sets are coming under intense scrutiny. Beyond payment delays and gruelling 18-hour shifts, basic human dignity on sets — spanning clean drinking water, non-toxic meals, and covered dining areas — has emerged as a major point of friction.