VASCO
In a significant crackdown, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a raid at the Mapusa bus stand on Wednesday, seizing food items worth approximately Rs 1 lakh.
The raid targeted the interstate bus stand area where several food items, including spices, goat milk and biscuits, were confiscated for lacking proper labels.
An FDA official revealed that this raid was part of an ongoing enforcement drive aimed at ensuring compliance with food safety regulations by entrepreneurs bringing food products into Goa from other states. “This was our eighth visit to the Mapusa bus stand as part of our efforts to enforce strict adherence to food safety standards,” the official stated.
The confiscated items have been taken into custody, and a detailed investigation is underway. The FDA plans to scrutinise the seized products to determine the extent of non-compliance and potential health risks. “We will conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action based on our findings,” the official added.
“If there is a repeat offence, we will impose fines or file legal cases against the offenders,” the official warned, underscoring the FDA’s commitment to upholding food safety standards.
As per standard procedure, the department will issue a show-cause notice to the individuals responsible for the seized items, giving them an opportunity to explain the violations. This raid follows a similar operation conducted by the FDA at a ‘farsan’ (snacks) unit in Karasvaddo, Mapusa, just a day earlier.
