Concerns over the quality and hygiene of food served to workers on film and television sets have prompted the Allied Mazdoor Union to seek intervention from Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Tukaram Mundhe.
Gangeshwar Srivastava, General Secretary of the Allied Mazdoor Union, alleged that while leading actors are often provided high-quality catering, several members of the crew—including lightmen, spot boys and set workers—are made to rely on poor-quality meals.
According to Srivastava, food-serving areas at some shooting locations are allegedly positioned close to toilets and other unsuitable areas. He further claimed that workers have reported finding insects in meals served on sets.
“The people doing the most physically demanding work should not have to compromise on the basic quality and hygiene of their food,” Srivastava said, alleging that cost-cutting by production houses has resulted in caterers being hired without adequate attention to licensing and food-safety requirements.
The union claims that repeated consumption of poor-quality food has led to workers falling ill. Some crew members, it said, have consequently stopped eating meals provided on sets and instead bring food from home.
Srivastava also alleged that complaints about catering conditions have been raised with producers and art directors on several occasions, but that adequate corrective measures have not followed. He cited the catering arrangements associated with one prominent female producer as being particularly problematic, according to the union.
The Allied Mazdoor Union is now seeking intervention from Mundhe and has urged the FDA to inspect catering operations at shooting locations, verify licences and food-safety compliance, and take action against caterers or production houses found violating applicable norms.
The union said such steps are necessary to ensure that the health, safety and dignity of the workers who form the backbone of film and television productions are not compromised.
