THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Goa’s food safety watchdog has seized and destroyed nearly 3 tonnes of food stock and detected 83 non-conforming samples during a statewide enforcement drive targeting food safety violations.
The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspected 2,528 food establishments and lifted 1,532 enforcement samples, with 83 subsequently found to be non-conforming.
The action resulted in penalties and compounding charges totalling Rs 20.43 lakh, besides 422 improvement notices being issued to food business operators.
The FDA also suspended two licences and launched 13 prosecutions before Judicial Magistrates First Class (JMFC) courts) for violations detected during its enforcement activities.
The department’s Action Taken Report states that 2,967.1 kg of food stock, valued at around Rs 6.36 lakh, was detained and destroyed during surveillance.
The enforcement was not limited to routine inspections. The FDA conducted 293 special surveillance drives, including inspections during late evenings and early mornings, across different areas of North and South Goa.
The drives covered concerns relating to adulterated food products and the use of prohibited artificial colours, among other food safety violations.
The FDA said its Food Safety Officers have been conducting routine surveillance as well as special drives and that any non-compliance detected is dealt with under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The department said the surveillance drives would continue in a planned manner, with officials assigned areas and duties through comprehensive tour programmes.
However, the report does not provide a detailed breakup of the 83 non-conforming samples, including how many specifically involved prohibited artificial colours, adulteration or other food safety violations.
