Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In two separate enforcement drives, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized and destroyed unhygienically stored chicken and misbranded sweets being supplied to eateries in Goa.
Acting on a tip-off, an FDA team comprising Designated Officer Richard Noronha, along with Rajaram Patil, Lenin De Sa, Nousin Mulla, and Amit Mandrekar, raided an unlicensed wholesale chicken supply unit operated by one Sashwath Yadav at Nagoa-Arpora. The unit, located behind a waste segregation facility, was found to be operating in highly unhygienic conditions. Around 300 kg of chicken sourced from Hubli, lacking mandatory documentation, was seized and subsequently destroyed.
In a parallel surveillance drive at Calangute, aimed at detecting excessive use of food colouring in sweets, the FDA found that a vendor, M/s Shivlairi Enterprise, operated by Mr. Lalaram under the brand name ‘Manthan’, continued to supply misbranded sweets despite previous sensitization efforts. The sweets were traced to a manufacturing unit at Borim, Ponda. Authorities suspect that the added food colour exceeds permissible limits. Stock worth ₹50,000 was seized and samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
The operations were carried out under the supervision of FDA Director Shweta Dessai. The department has reiterated its commitment to ensuring food safety and warned of strict action against violators.
