Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: With the Ganesh Chaturthi season witnessing increased movement of food consignments, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up enforcement in South Goa, seizing food products worth approximately ₹92,000 during separate inspections.
At the Margao KTC bus stand, FDA officials checked inter-state buses on Thursday and intercepted consignments carrying food products that allegedly failed to meet mandatory labelling requirements under FSSAI regulations.
The seized products, valued at around ₹30,000, comprised pickles, stone chocolate, hing goli, paan and sweet amla. According to officials, the packages did not carry mandatory information such as manufacturing dates, use-by dates and FSSAI licence numbers.
Officials said the inspection formed part of intensified checks during Ganesh Chaturthi, when food products are transported into Goa in larger quantities.
The team also intercepted a separate consignment of ice cubes worth ₹12,000 that had arrived by bus from Pune. Officials noted that although the ice was manufactured in Pune, the packaging reportedly displayed the FSSAI licence number belonging to a manufacturing establishment in Goa. The consignment was consequently seized.
In another enforcement action, FDA officials inspected a manufacturing facility at Sirvoi in Quepem, where they found 150 kg of kalakand valued at ₹45,000 that did not comply with prescribed labelling norms.
The packaging lacked details including the batch number, use-by date and nutritional information. Officials also found that the product contained added green colouring.
The FDA subsequently destroyed all the seized stocks, citing concerns over consumer safety and public health.
The South Goa enforcement operation was conducted under the supervision of Designated Officer Sanjyot Kudalkar. Senior Food Safety Officer Madhav and Food Safety Officers Amardeep, Abhishek and Priya, along with MTS Gauresh, were part of the inspection team.
