FDA shuts food units over hygiene, licence violations
The directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) in an inspection drive at Tiswadi and Bardez, directed six food outlets to cease operations. These included a biryani outlet in Agacaim operating in unhygienic conditions without an FSSAI licence, and two cloud kitchens in Sangolda for poor hygiene and structural issues.
A kitchen in Mapusa and two food outlets at Assagao were shut for unhygienic conditions. One of the food outlets was fined Rs 5000. Nine chicken sellers in Varca, Orlim, and Carmona were found operating without FSSAI licences and issued stop notices.
'Some units were found operating in temporary structures, lacking basic hygiene, such as no tap water connection, no proper sink/drainage facility, and sanitary cards of food handlers not provided,' director of the FDA, Sweta Dessai, said.
A food outlet at Colvaddo, Varca, was also found selling expired food items. Items worth Rs 9000 were destroyed, and food samples were taken for analysis.
Expired food items destroyed included 47 containers of chocolates, six containers of fruits, and two packs each of coconut sweets and churma. The FDA also acted on a complaint against a hotel near Khareband, Margao, for illegal cooking on the footpath.
The FDA found violations, including the lack of sanitary cards, inadequate pest control, poor kitchen hygiene, the use of iron knives, a faulty false ceiling, the absence of well water test reports, and the use of synthetic food colours. It obtained an undertaking to shift frying from the foot path to indoors, and the outlet was given seven days to comply and submit a report.
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