FDA shuts down food processing units in Navelim, Sao Jose de Areal

MARGAO: The director for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Salim Veljee, on Tuesday, informed that two food processing units were shut down in Navelim and Sao Jose de Areal for manufacturing food items without food safety licences thereby violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and rules and regulation 2011.

“The owners are directed not to start any food related activities until they obtain necessary food safety licences from the FDA. They are further asked to ensure that food articles are manufactured and marketed only after affixing proper labels containing all particulars like packed date, best before use, name and address of the manufacturers, food safety license of the manufacturer as well as the nutritional claims of such food articles,” he stated.

Veljee said that the food safety officers of the FDA, Abel Rodrigues, Shailesh Shenvi, Rajaram Patil and Shivdas Naik intercepted three cycle vendors at Navelim, Salcete, who were carrying un-labelled food articles for distribution to various gadas, bar and restaurants, etc.

The officers, based on the clues from these cyclists reached at thepremises of the manufacturer Ramesh Devar at Colmorod-Navelim, Salcete. Ramesh was found engaged in processing kurkure, ground nuts, etc. in an un-hygienic condition and the food products also did not carrying any label declaration, Veljee said adding, the said premises was also found operating without any valid food safety licenses. 

Stock of food items worth Rs 20,000 was seized by the officials and subsequently destroyed in the presence of the owner, the FDA director said.

He further informed that the FDA officers later inspected a manufacturing unit belonging to Suresh Choudhary of M/s Choudhary Food Products at Comba, Sao Jose de Areal. “Suresh too was engaged in processing foodarticles like shev, arsan, chips, shankerpadi and laddos without holding any valid food safety licenses and the said food articles did not contain any labels or other declarations which are misbranded under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules/regulation 2011, Veljee said adding that the confiscated food items are collectively worth Rs 1.60 lakh which was later destroyed in the presence of the owner.