ASSAGAO

The Food and Drugs Administration in Goa raided and shut down a factory on Saturday which was allegedly bottling drinking water in unhygienic conditions, an official said.

A raid was conducted by a team of food safety officials of the FDA at Krishna Food and Beverages in Assagao village, about 20 kilometres from here, said Jyoti Sardesai, FDA director.

“The unit was found manufacturing packaged drinking water without obtaining a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act from the Food and Drugs Administration,” she said.

She added that the operations at the unit were being carried out in an unhygienic manner by non-technical staff. The packaged drinking water was being distributed to various hotels in Mapusa and Calangute areas, the official said.

Sardesai said that the firm had been issued a notice under section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act and had been asked to stop its activities with immediate effect.

She said that the material at the factory had been seized and legal action would follow.