Six years after promise, Margao food testing lab delayed amid rising safety fears

Six years after it was first promised in 2019, the government-run food testing laboratory in Margao, Goa, remains non-operational, raising concerns about food safety in the state. Despite repeated assurances and the growing need for robust food quality checks, the facility has yet to commence operations as of May 2025, leaving Goa dependent on private labs and out-of-state testing for critical food safety assessments.

Despite rising food safety concerns and growing calls for immediate action, the dedicated Margao food testing lab, meant to enhance local food safety infrastructure – has yet to be established. Although the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration operates a lab for food and drug testing, this delay highlights a significant gap in Goa’s public health system

A former SGPDA member stated, 'There is a vacant 100-square-metre shed at the market that could have easily accommodated the food testing lab. The government's decision to prioritize commercial projects over public health needs is concerning. With issues like artificial fruit ripening and contaminated fish still prevalent, the absence of a functioning food testing lab highlights a major gap in Goa’s food safety infrastructure.