Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: In the run-up to Diwali, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has intensified inspections across South Goa to curb food adulteration and ensure compliance with hygiene and labelling standards. The special festival drive conducted through October covered all talukas in the district.
According to officials, 23 inspections were carried out at manufacturing units in Salcete to assess sanitary and hygienic conditions. Early-morning checks were also conducted on inter-state buses at the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) bus stand in Margao.
During one such inspection, FDA officials detained meat products—specifically chicken drumsticks and chicken curry cuts—over improper labelling. The products, manufactured by KGN Processed Chicken from Pune, were ordered to be recalled to the source facility.
In another raid, approximately 300 kg of Imlee Goli worth ₹33,000 was seized after being found without mandatory label declarations. The detained stock has been sent to the Food Laboratory for testing, and officials are awaiting the analysis report.
At Cuncolim, around 11 kg of mawa worth ₹2,500 was found unfit for consumption and subsequently destroyed.
A separate inspection at Davorlim uncovered a vehicle transporting mawa to local sweet makers without maintaining the required cold-chain conditions for dairy-based products. The FDA also found bags of kalakand, burfi, and rabdi being transported without key label details such as manufacturing date, expiry date, and storage requirements. One of the FSSAI licence numbers linked to the consignment was discovered to be inactive.
Officials confirmed that the stock was seized for being transported in unsuitable conditions, warning that strict action will follow against violators to ensure safe and hygienic food reaches consumers during the festive season.
