# 40% of Mumbai consumers bought fake cosmetics, survey finds 2026-08-14T08:08:15+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets A LocalCircles survey of over 4,800 Mumbai consumers found that 40% had bought a fake or counterfeit cosmetic in the past three years, while 30% reported an allergic reaction. More than half of those who bought a counterfeit also suffered an allergic reaction. The survey comes as Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who took charge in May 2026, has led an aggressive enforcement drive against food adulteration and unsafe products. In June, the FDA seized illegal cosmetic stock worth Rs 34.61 lakh from Karad and Mumbai’s Crawford Market. Mumbai Police separately seized Pakistan-made cosmetics worth Rs 12 lakh in July. Mundhe’s broader crackdown has included 1,131 inspections, seizure of food stocks worth nearly Rs 50 crore, and suspension of 56 restaurant licences. Inspections at iconic Mumbai eateries such as K Rustom & Co. and Parsi Dairy Farm revealed hygiene and storage violations. The survey found that local stores and market stalls were the biggest source of fake cosmetics (31%), followed by online platforms (23%) and beauty stores (18%). ## Coverage - indiatoday.in - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Consumer safety, counterfeit goods, fake cosmetics, LocalCircles survey, Maharashtra FDA, Tukaram Mundhe Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/40-of-mumbai-consumers-bought-fake-cosmetics-survey-finds/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/40-of-mumbai-consumers-bought-fake-cosmetics-survey-finds/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.