Mumbai’s Kandivali has become home to a national first. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in partnership with Danone India, has opened “Mauli,” the country’s first clean street food hub operated entirely by women. Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the project, calling it a milestone under the Eat Right India movement.
Mauli is staffed by women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who have undergone FoSTaC training, a food safety and hygiene certification programme designed by FSSAI. The hub aims to show that street food, often celebrated for taste but questioned for safety, can meet high standards of cleanliness and trust while creating sustainable livelihoods for women.
Danone India’s Managing Director, Shashi Ranjan, said the project reflects the company’s mission to “bring health through food” and its long-term partnership with FSSAI. “By giving women access to training and resources, we are creating safe food spaces and enabling entrepreneurship,” he said.
For FSSAI, Mauli is more than a single initiative. The regulator has trained over 6,000 street food vendors in western India so far, with 200 more certified during the launch event. The next phase will cover over 10,000 vendors across the region, ensuring that safe food practices scale beyond Mumbai.
Piyush Goyal praised the initiative as “a shining example of women’s empowerment, food safety and community development coming together.” FSSAI has confirmed that more such hubs are planned for other Indian cities as the Eat Right India movement expands into schools, workplaces and community spaces.
With Mauli, Mumbai’s street food scene gains not only a new address but also a benchmark that could redefine how India eats on the go.
