Team Goemkarponn
BARDEZ: In a continuing drive to ensure food safety, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out extensive inspections across Bardez and Mapusa on Monday.
The operation, led by a team of officials under the guidance of FDA Director Shweta Dessai, uncovered multiple violations involving hygiene and food adulteration.
At Karaswada and Thivim, six roadside meat shops were inspected. Two of these were found operating under unhygienic conditions and were ordered to shut down immediately.
The remaining four outlets were served improvement notices and directed to rectify the observed lapses.
In Calangute, two eateries were found serving shawarma and chicken lollipops containing excessive food colouring. The contaminated food items were seized and destroyed on the spot in the interest of public health.
Acting on a tip-off and considering the high fruit demand ahead of the Vat Purnima festival, FDA officials also conducted surprise checks at the Mapusa Market Yard.
A total of 10 stalls were inspected. During the inspection, 1.5 tons of bananas belonging to a vendor named Mohammed (Stall S-39) were found laced with a suspicious liquid, indicating possible use of unauthorized ripening chemicals.
The stall and stock were sealed, and samples were drawn for laboratory analysis. If confirmed, the tainted stock will be destroyed and the vendor will face expulsion from the market premises.
Additionally, 250 kg of bananas found on a “sopo” (platform) and linked to vendor Shrinivas Kademani were also flagged for similar contamination.
These were immediately seized in the interest of public safety. Samples of bananas and mangoes from other stalls were also collected for routine chemical analysis.
The inspection team comprised FDA officials Richard Noronha, Rajaram Patil, Amit Mandrekar, and Darlan Diukar.
The FDA reiterated its commitment to ensuring that food sold in public markets adheres to safety standards and warned vendors against the use of harmful substances in food products.
