MAPUSA
The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) intercepted a private Maruti Ertiga (KA-22-MB-2137) at Taleigao while its supplier was allegedly delivering substandard sweets to vendors, and destroyed around 120 kg of assorted mithai.
The action followed inputs from local vendors, which the FDA traced to the source before laying a trap. The supplier, Hastimal Gohilot of Belagavi, was found to have no valid FSSAI licence in Belagavi to prepare the sweets.
FDA officials said private vehicles are increasingly being used to evade enforcement checks, but retail-level surveillance has helped trace supply chains.
The FDA has reported the matter to its Belagavi counterparts for action and will inform the Belagavi RTO about the vehicle’s alleged commercial use.
The operation was conducted by Richard Noronha, Ram Dhuri, Amit Mandrekar, Safia Khan and Lenin De Sa, with Sandeep Shelke, under the FDA Director’s guidance.
