Team Goemkarponn
SALCETE: In a continuing effort to uphold food safety and hygiene standards across Goa, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) team carried out a comprehensive inspection drive in Salcete Taluka on June 9.
The focus was on verifying sanitary conditions and regulatory compliance in food establishments.
During the inspections, one restaurant was found operating under severely unhygienic conditions and was ordered to cease operations immediately to protect public health.
Officials observed numerous violations, including the preparation of food without adequate washing facilities, stagnant water in the kitchen, presence of rodents contaminating food items, unpainted and poorly maintained walls, absence of pest control documentation, lack of sanitary cards, and overall poor hygiene among staff.
The FDA served an inspection report along with a notice to obtain a proper license, directing the food business operator (FBO) to rectify these issues within three days and report back on compliance.
A manufacturing unit was also inspected and found guilty of multiple breaches, notably the storage of 20 kilograms of Mawa worth ₹2,000 without mandatory labeling.
The unlabelled stock was seized for destruction in accordance with established protocols. The FBO was issued a report and asked to submit compliance documentation promptly.
Additionally, the FDA team inspected 11 food stalls at the Feast of Holy Spirit held at SGPDA Margao.
All vendors were found operating without valid FSSAI licenses and failed to label their food products properly. Consequently, fines totaling ₹24,000 were imposed.
To ensure food quality, six samples of snacks and pickles were collected for laboratory testing, while four chat samples were analyzed on-site using the FDA’s Mobile Food Testing Van.
This inspection drive was led by Designated Officer Smt. Sanjyot Kudalkar of South Goa, accompanied by Senior Food Safety Officer Shri Rajiv Korde and Food Safety Officials Shri Atul Dessai, Miss Pradiksha Chopdekar, and Shri Amardeep Gaude.
The FDA reaffirmed its commitment to strict enforcement measures to ensure that safe, hygienic, and properly licensed food is available to the people of Goa.
