Goa’s food safety on wheels: Introduces its first mobile food testing laboratory

Panaji, March 3: Keeping in mind about the state’s food safety, Goa cut the ribbon of its and nation’s first ever mobile food testing laboratory. CM Parrikar had unveiled the vehicle, worth Rs 41 lakh, in presence of Goa Food and Drugs Administration Minister Vishwajit Rane.

The laboratory mounted on a bus will be traveling across the state checking food samples on the spot. CM Parrikar had said this would be the first ever ‘Food Safety on Wheel’ vehicle in the entire country. “It is entirely funded by the Centre, which will also bear the maintenance cost for five years,” he said.

According to an official press release “The Food Safety on Wheels vehicles is equipped with a mobile laboratory, well equipped to carry out tests like a screening of adulterants in milk, masalas, honey, detection of food color, analysis of packed drinking water etc. The Vehicle serves as a very effective means to carry out spot tests/analysis, awareness programmes, food safety surveillance etc. The services of the onboard mobile lab shall now be open to the general public as well as Food business operators. The food samples can be submitted to the mobile tab, while at camp at various cities.

Nominal fees to be paid on the spot for per samples for Milk and Milk products is Rs.400/- for Packaged drinking water is Rs.300/- and for other food items is Rs.150/-