Goa government relaunches hygiene rating for restaurants, hotels

With the food and drugs administration (FDA) receiving multiple complaints of unsanitary conditions in a few restaurants in Goa, particularly in the coastal belt, health minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said that the FDA will conduct hygiene inspections of all restaurants across the state.

An FDA official said that they receive 10-12 complaints about unhygienic restaurants every month from locals as well as tourists. “We then inspect the premises and issue necessary directions to the food business operator to improve hygiene,” the official said.

The health minister said that FSSAI-empanelled third-party auditors will be roped in to conduct inspections. “These comprehensive audits will evaluate adherence to FSSAI food safety standards, maintenance of proper sanitation protocols, staff hygiene training practices, and waste management systems,” he said.

Restaurant owners ought to ensure full compliance with these requirements, as non-compliance may result in strict action under Food Safety and Standards Regulation, the health minister said.

Further, Rane said that every restaurant is required to obtain and prominently display an official hygiene rating certificate on their premises.

Hygiene rating was initiated by FSSAI to ensure that consumers make informed choices while eating out and also encouraging food businesses to showcase and improve their food hygiene standards.

The health minister said that the primary objective of this initiative is to enhance food safety standards and restore public confidence in Goa’s restaurant industry.

“Hygiene rating was launched in Goa a year ago, but we received a poor response from the food business owners. We are now considering re-launching the same,” the FDA official said.