PANAJI
In a major crackdown, a team from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized 1,300 kilograms of raw chicken and approximately 250 kilograms of misbranded analogue mava at the Mollem check post.
Acting on an input from a reliable source while on surveillance at Bardez, the FDA team carried out checks on food-laden vehicles at the Mollem check post from 10 pm to 8 am.
During the inspection, 34 vehicles were checked carrying several food items and samples of food articles (paneer, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, chicken, curd) were drawn for analysis.
A consignment of about 250 kgs of misbranded analogue mava was detained as it was not transported under appropriate conditions.
The FDA team also detained a vehicle carrying 1300 kgs of raw chicken without proper storage and documentation, which was supplied from Hubli.
A suspicious milk tanker was detained as the consignee details were not mentioned on the e-way bill. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the skim milk was ordered by one dairy and on checking the premises, the FBO was found engaged in the manufacture of sub standard (analogue) paneer as large quantity of vegetable oil packets were found in the premises.
The manufacturer was engaged in supply of analogue paneer as paneer to several major restaurants and starred hotels.
The FDA team comprised Richard Noronha, Rajaram Patil, Amit Mandrekar, Lenin De Sa, Sandeep Shelke and Gaurish Gaonkar under the directives of FDA Director Shweta Dessai.
