MAPUSA
Continuing its drive to enforce food safety standards across the State, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Tuesday carried out a surveillance and inspection drive in Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and Mapusa, covering a range of food business establishments.
The inspection team visited restaurants, retail outlets, food vending establishments and wholesalers to assess compliance with food safety regulations.
During the drive, a total of 17 food business operators were inspected, of which nine establishments were directed to suspend operations due to various non-compliances observed during the inspections.
As part of the ongoing exercise, the FDA team also inspected outlets in the Alankar area of Mapusa to verify compliance levels and review the status of establishments that had earlier been directed to cease operations.
The FDA said that the surveillance drive will continue in other parts of the state in the coming days.
Officials appealed to all food business operators to strictly adhere to prescribed food safety norms and maintain hygienic conditions in their establishments.
The department warned that failure to comply with the stipulated standards could result in suspension of licences or imposition of penalties under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The inspection team comprised Designated Officer Richard Noronha and Food Safety Officers Lenin De Sa, Amit Mandrekar and Darlane Diukar, along with staff member Sandeep Shelke.
The drive was conducted under the guidance of FDA Director Shweta Dessai.
