Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Reinforcing its commitment to ensuring safe and hygienic food for the people of Goa, the State Health Department conducted a late-evening inspection drive along Old Market Road in Margao and in the Seraulim–Verna belt, uncovering multiple unlicensed and unhygienic food operations.
The drive covered food vending units, retailers, restaurants, a bakery, and roadside hawkers. During the inspection, officials found an unlicensed juice centre operating without mandatory permissions and issued a notice to the operator. Several other establishments were directed to immediately rectify serious hygiene lapses, including absence of sanitary cards for food handlers, lack of pest control measures, unsafe food handling practices, improper storage conditions, use of non-permitted food colours, and poor kitchen hygiene.
In a significant seizure, one retailer was found selling expired food items worth ₹35,600. The entire stock was destroyed on the spot to prevent any risk to public health. Overall penalties amounting to ₹17,000 were imposed on violators during the drive.
State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government will not tolerate any compromise on food safety standards.
“Ensuring safe and hygienic food for every citizen is our top priority. We will continue surprise inspections across the State and take strict action against those endangering public health. At the same time, we are also guiding food business operators on compliance so that standards improve across the board,” Rane stated.
Alongside enforcement, officials sensitised food business operators on maintaining hygiene standards, use of permitted food colours, and proper disposal of used cooking oil, stressing that compliance is essential not only to avoid penalties but to safeguard consumer health.
The Health Department has indicated that similar inspection drives will continue in other parts of the State in the coming weeks.
