FDA to act strictly against food safety violations in Calangute

Calangute: Food and drugs administration (FDA) officials on Friday said the “awareness” phase of their months-long campaign in the Calangute-Candolim tourism hub has ended. With the start of the new tourist season, they will now take strict action, shutting down food outlets that violate safety norms or sell adulterated products.

“In the last few months, we have conducted enough awareness campaigns, with inspection of cashew nut shops, fast food outlets and restaurants to ensure that only genuine and unadulterated edible items are prepared and sold in hygienic conditions by following all food safety norms. During repeat checks, we have found that most have followed our guidelines and taken corrective measures, but some have not. Now we will take action and shut down anyone found violating FDA norms,” FDA-designated officer Richard Noronha said.

Noronha said the FDA would take action in coordination with the local panchayats and cancel the trade licence of errant outlets. “The trade licence issued by the panchayats is subject to the outlet following FDA norms, and its violation will lead to cancellation of the trade licence,” he said.

On Friday, the FDA inspected roadside biryani vendors and shawarma outlets. “We have asked them to conduct their business within the shops and refrain from keeping the biryani vessel and shawarma grill next to the road or footpath as that leads to cross-contamination,” he said.