FDA cracks down on food safety violations in Bardez

CLEAN FOOD MISSION: One of the food units inspected by FDA officials during a surveillance drive along the coastal belt on Wednesday.

MAPUSA

In a continued crackdown on food safety violations, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) carried out inspection drives across Bardez on April 13 and 15, checking several food businesses in key tourist areas such as Candolim, Calangute, Baga and Verla-Canca.

During the drives, officials inspected various establishments, including manufacturing units, restaurants, retailers and wholesalers.

Across both days, 12 food businesses were inspected. Eight units were asked to stop operations until they comply with food safety norms.

On April 15, inspections were carried out in Candolim, Calangute and Baga. Of the six establishments checked, four were ordered to shut down.

Officials seized and destroyed around 450 kg of expired coriander powder worth Rs 58,500, along with 50 kg of low-grade cashew nuts, unlabelled breadcrumbs and poorly stored cheese valued at Rs 18,200. The total value of the destroyed stock was estimated at Rs 71,000.

The team also took action against a cashew coating unit in Baga that was found coating low-quality cashews with masala to improve their appearance for sale. A street food cart in Calangute was also shut down for operating without valid permissions and in unhygienic conditions.

Earlier, on April 13, the FDA carried out inspections in Calangute and Verla-Canca, covering six establishments. Four of these were told to stop operations.

Officials seized and destroyed 150 kg of misbranded food items, including farsan and pulses, along with 50 kg of paneer without proper labels. The seized stock in this drive was valued at around Rs 1 lakh. In a separate action, a wholesaler-distributor in Calangute was fined Rs 50,000 under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The FDA team also intercepted two tempo vehicles in Bambolim, Tiswadi, which were transporting and selling loose jaggery sourced from Tamil Nadu along the roadside.

Samples of the jaggery have been sent for laboratory testing to check for non-permitted colours, while the entire stock worth Rs 1.5 lakh has been seized. Further action will be taken based on the lab report.

The inspection teams were led by Designated Officer Richard Noronha, along with Food Safety Officers Lenin De Sa, Amit Mandrekar and Darlane Diukar, supported by staff.

The drives were carried out under the guidance of FDA Director Shweta Dessai.