Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Reiterating its commitment to ensuring safe and hygienic food for every Goan, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has intensified surveillance drives across South Goa and North Goa, penalising unlicensed food businesses, seizing unsafe food products and ordering the closure of establishments found violating food safety norms.
During an inspection of milk and milk product suppliers in Salcete, the South Goa FDA team fined one supplier ₹30,000 for operating without a valid licence and selling unlabelled paneer. About 20 kg of paneer worth ₹10,000 was confiscated, while milk samples were collected for quality analysis.
The FDA also carried out a compliance drive at Ramdamol, where seven food establishments were inspected. Five unlicensed units and two establishments operating in unhygienic conditions were collectively fined ₹14,000. The operators were directed to comply with food safety regulations, including proper disposal of used cooking oil and avoiding the use of newspapers for wrapping food.
In another surveillance drive at Anjuna, the FDA inspected 13 establishments comprising restaurants, bakeries and chicken slaughter units. Three chicken slaughter units were directed to suspend operations for functioning in unhygienic conditions and without mandatory Panchayat and Health NOCs. One bakery and two restaurants were also ordered to remain closed until serious hygiene deficiencies are rectified.
Additionally, one food business operator was fined ₹15,000 for violating food safety regulations. Used cooking oil collected from four establishments was tested using the Total Polar Compounds (TPC) meter, with all samples found to be within the prescribed safety limits.
The FDA said surveillance and compliance drives will continue across Goa, warning that strict action will be taken against those failing to comply with food safety standards to safeguard public health.
