Team Herald
MARGAO: People looking forward to indulging in the fair staple – fiery red gobi manchurian piled high on hot tavas at the Margao feast fair starting this week are in for disappointment. Acting on instructions from the South Goa Collector’s office, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued strict guidelines to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) to address health and safety concerns related to food stalls at the upcoming feast fair in Margao.
FDA officials have flagged recurring issues with food stalls at such events, citing inadequate infrastructure, unhygienic food preparation conditions, and poor waste disposal practices that could lead to health risks, including food poisoning.
Shweta Dessai, Director of the FDA and Commissioner of Food Safety, highlighted that the FDA’s efforts to curb unsafe practices often meet resistance from vendors who claim to have municipal council approvals. “This creates a perception that the FDA is being obstructive, while in reality, we are safeguarding public health,” she said.
The FDA has now directed the Municipal Council to ensure that all vendors secure the requisite registration certificate from the FDA before commencing food-related activities. Vendors must also adhere to hygiene and sanitation standards.
The FDA stressed that, ideally, the NOC (No Objection Certificate) should only allow the sale of readymade snacks. Under no circumstances should activities involving the cooking of food in open conditions without proper sanitation and hygiene infrastructure be permitted. Furthermore, if an NOC is issued for food preparation, the MMC must ensure that essential facilities such as kitchen areas, water, drainage, and washing facilities are provided to the applicant before issuing the NOC.
Additionally, following instructions from the Child Rights Commission, the FDA has warned against the sale of items like gobi manchurian and pakodas prepared in unhygienic conditions using substandard ingredients. Violators will face strict action.