PANAJI: Nine food establishments across Goa have been ordered to stop operations after food safety officials found serious hygiene violations during a statewide inspection drive.
The enforcement action covered restaurants, food retailers, vending units, manufacturing facilities and food transporters across Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete.
In Bardez, food safety teams inspected 23 establishments and directed seven units to suspend operations after detecting major hygiene lapses. In Bambolim and Panaji, five more establishments were inspected, resulting in two additional shutdown orders. A repeat offender was also booked, while a ₹5,000 penalty was imposed after tests found excessive Total Polar Compounds (TPC) levels in cooking oil.
Authorities issued improvement notices for minor violations and continued inspections in other areas.
In Salcete, action was taken against unhygienic samosa manufacturing units and a restaurant, with penalties imposed for food safety breaches.
Following a complaint, an inspection at an Instamart outlet led to directions to immediately separate expired food products. Officials also collected milk samples from a transporter for laboratory testing.
Food safety authorities said inspection and surveillance drives will continue across Goa, warning that strict action will be taken against establishments compromising public health.
