In a significant enforcement operation today, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) launched a surveillance drive in the Calangute area targeting the sale of substandard cashew nuts. During the crackdown, a supplier identified as Mr. Avinash Powar from Azara, Maharashtra, was traced, leading to the seizure of approximately 3,000 kilograms of poor-quality cashew nuts from his premises.
The operation, spearheaded by Designated Officer Richard Noronha and supported by senior food safety officers including Rajaram Patil, Lenin de Sa, Madhav Kavlekar, Safia Khan, and Vishwas Rane, was conducted under the guidance of FDA Director Shweta Dessai. Legal samples were drawn during the inspection, which revealed a total stock of around 300,000 kilograms of substandard cashew, raising serious concerns over food safety standards in the region.
