The Goan Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a major surveillance drive across North Goa in popular tourist areas including Anjuna, Candolim, Vagator, and Mapusa.

In this surprise audit, restaurants, retail food outlets, bakeries and chicken slaughter houses were targeted. Restaurant hygiene, food safety and regulatory compliance were the focus in this audit. 

The FDA team, led by officer Richard Noronha alongwith Food Safety Officers Lenin De Sa, Amit Mandrekar, and Darlane Diukar inspected 13 units in all. They were working under the guidance of Director Shweta Dessai.

Six out of the 13 were ordered to immediately suspend operations due to serious food safety and hygiene issues. The six businesses included three chicken units, one bakery and two restaurants. One food business operator was fined ₹15,000 for regulatory lapses. 

Used cooking oil was also tested for Total Polar Compounds (TPC) at four premises. TPCs measure the degradation of cooking oil caused by high heat. The TPCs in these establishments were found to be within permissible limits. 

The FDA has stated that the surveillance drive will continue in all areas.