PANAJI: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has ordered the closure of six food establishments following inspection drives in Bambolim, Merces and Thivim, where officials detected serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards.
FDA teams inspected 10 food businesses, including restaurants and roadside tea and snack vendors. Six establishments were directed to suspend operations after they were found operating under unhygienic conditions.
Among those ordered to close were four food outlets located outside Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim. Officials found that these outlets were sourcing food from unapproved kitchens that failed to meet basic hygiene requirements. A fresh juice vendor operating near GMC was also penalised with a fine of ₹10,000 for breaching food safety regulations.
In Thivim, an Udipi restaurant and a tea stall were instructed to stop operations after inspectors found hygiene-related deficiencies. The Udipi restaurant was also fined ₹15,000.
According to the FDA, the affected establishments will be allowed to resume business only after all deficiencies are rectified and compliance is confirmed through a departmental inspection.
The department stated that similar surveillance drives will continue across the state to ensure adherence to food safety standards. It also cautioned food business operators that repeated or serious violations could result in the suspension of their licences.
The inspection was carried out by Designated Officer Richard Noronha along with Food Safety Officers Amit Mandrekar, Lenin D’Sa and Safia Khan, and staff member Sandeep Shelke under the supervision of FDA Director Shweta Dessai.
