New Delhi: Maharashtra Food Safety Department Commissioner Tukaram Munde has criticised celebrities who appear in advertisements for pan masala and gutkha, saying endorsers cannot escape accountability.
Speaking on an NDTV programme, Munde said public figures should not claim they are “just acting” and that only manufacturers are responsible. He argued that celebrities must accept both legal and moral responsibility for the products they promote.
In a sharp remark, he said that if someone advertises pan or gutkha, they should first consume it themselves and let their children do so before asking others to use it.
Munde also said society should not blame the “system” alone for wrongdoing, and that change requires responsible behaviour. He linked unhealthy eating habits to rising heart disease and cancer, and said he has not compromised on enforcing the law or opposing corruption.
He recently issued notices seeking explanations from actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff for appearing in such advertisements, and directed that related posts be removed from their social media pages.
