Team Goemkarponn
MAPUSA: The Goa Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has intensified its statewide food safety enforcement, inspecting more than 2,500 establishments and detecting 83 food samples that failed to meet prescribed standards.
According to the department’s Action Taken Report, FDA officials inspected 2,528 food establishments and collected 1,532 samples for enforcement testing. Of these, 83 were found to be non-conforming.
The enforcement action resulted in penalties and compounding charges amounting to Rs 20.43 lakh. The department also issued 422 improvement notices to food business operators for various violations.
The FDA detained and destroyed 2,967.1 kg of food stock valued at approximately Rs 6.36 lakh during its surveillance activities.
As part of the enforcement programme, the department conducted 293 special surveillance drives across North and South Goa. These included inspections carried out during late evening and early morning hours.
The drives focused on various food safety concerns, including suspected adulteration and the use of prohibited artificial colours.
The department said Food Safety Officers were carrying out both regular inspections and targeted surveillance operations, with violations being dealt with under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The FDA also suspended two food licences and initiated 13 prosecutions before Judicial Magistrates First Class courts in connection with violations detected during the enforcement activities.
The department said the surveillance operations would continue through planned drives, with officers assigned specific areas and responsibilities under comprehensive tour programmes.
