Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Feb 15: The Food and Drugs Administration Goa (FDA) imposed penalties amounting to Rs 17,000 on several food business operators during inspection drives conducted across South Goa for running unlicensed premises, storing expired food products and maintaining unhygienic conditions.

During a raid at Seraulim, a food retailer was found selling expired food articles. Items worth Rs 35,600 were destroyed on the spot by the FDA officials.

In a late-night inspection drive at Old Market Road in Margao, FDA teams inspected three food vending establishments, two retail outlets, three restaurants and a bakery. A notice was issued to one unlicensed juice centre, directing it to comply with licensing norms at the earliest.

Officials noted multiple deficiencies during the drive, including absence of sanitary cards, lack of pest control records, use of non-permitted colour for chicken, use of an iron knife, dustbins without lids, absence of a false ceiling in kitchen premises, improper washing and storage facilities, food handlers without proper attire, unsegregated and unlabelled food items in refrigerators, and poor maintenance of refrigeration units.

The establishments were directed to rectify the deficiencies within three days and submit a compliance report to the department.

In separate inspections carried out at Seraulim and Verna, the FDA served notices along with spot inspection reports to food business operators after detecting violations such as lack of proper personnel attire, absence of health card copies, missing pest control certificates, failure to display no-smoking boards as per COTPA norms, use of newspapers for wrapping food articles and addition of colour to prepared food items.

The FDA also conducted awareness sessions for food business operators, educating them on the permitted use of food colours, maintenance of hygienic conditions and proper disposal of used cooking oil.