FDA shuts 6 Arpora eateries, seizes fake chocolates

Calangute: The food and drugs administration (FDA) on Monday conducted late-night checks on 11 premises in Arpora and other areas, shutting down six restaurants and seizing large quantities of mislabelled confectionery sold as chocolates.

Among those raided was a biryani kitchen supplying food to many Calangute outlets. “Six have been closed due to unhygienic conditions. The others were directed to comply because of minor discrepancies,” FDA officials said.

They also seized a large quantity of “so-called chocolates”. “We have detained mislabelled confectionery items. They are not chocolates but confectionery made with vegetable oil,” the officials said.

The officials said that violations persist despite extensive media coverage of ongoing raids. “The FDA continued checks, and we expected better compliance,” officials said.