TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: In an unprecedented action, officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) recalled an entire consignment of ‘pao’ (bread) supplied by a self-help group for mid-day meal scheme after the bakery was found working in an unhygienic condition.
Sources said the decision created a shortage of bread for the mid day meal, forcing the SHG to tide over by providing slice bread.
The FDA immediately ordered the closure of the Ashok bakery located at Ramnagri on the outskirts of the commercial capital.
A FDA team led by inspectors Rajiv Korde and Rajaram Patil and education department officials comprising of Mathurdas V Naik and D R Gaonkar inspected the Ashok bakery this morning as part of the inspection of bakeries supplying bread for the SHGs engaged in providing mid day meal to schools.
The team were taken by complete surprise when they found to their horror the pathetic conditions of the bakery. They saw how water from the leaking roofs was entering the bakery and coming in contact with the bread.
Rajaram Patil told Herald that team ordered the immediate closure of Ashok bakery given the state of affairs. “The bakery was operating without permission. There was no documentation either,” he said, adding that the bakery can re-open only after it seeks NOC and puts in place other documentation for setting up the unit.
