Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe Warns Celebrities Over Surrogate Product Endorsements
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has issued notices to several prominent Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff, for their involvement in advertisements suspected of being surrogate promotions for banned pan masala and tobacco-related products. Mundhe emphasized that all parties in the advertising chain, from creators to sponsors, are accountable for misleading claims. The FDA is intensifying its crackdown on such advertisements, particularly those for Vimal Elaichi, which is being investigated as a potential surrogate for a prohibited product, given the company's past involvement in selling gutkha. The Commissioner highlighted that a prohibitory order against gutkha, pan masala, and related tobacco items has been in place in Maharashtra since 2012. The FDA's complaints portal, complaints.myfda.in, has seen significant activity, resolving over 8,000 public complaints within a month, demonstrating increased regulatory oversight and a focus on implementing Fo... 
