Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens have raised concerns over the safety of watermelons sold by roadside vendors along the Colva-Mungul road, alleging they are unfit for consumption.
They held a protest on Thursday morning near the place where the watermelons are
being sold.
Locals reported health issues after consuming watermelons purchased from these vendors during Christmas, prompting calls for immediate intervention by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the Health Department.
Residents claim the vendors lack proper clearances from the FDA to operate and fear the watermelons might be unsafe due to poor handling or contamination. In light of these allegations, locals have appealed to the authorities to inspect the vendors and ensure compliance with food safety
regulations.
It may be recalled that the FDA recently conducted raids in other parts of Goa to crack down on similar practices. The Health Minister had also issued warnings about taking stringent action against any violations of food safety norms. Citizens are now urging officials to extend these efforts to the Colva-Mungul
stretch to prevent potential health hazards.