Laddu prasadam is prepared for devotees at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvaarla Devasthanam in Vijayawada on Friday. | Photo Credit: GN RAO
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) monitors the quality of the prasadams offered to devotees at Indrakeeladru during the ongoing Dasara Navarathri Utsavams.
On allegations of adulteration of Laddu prasadam in Tirumala temple of Lord Venkateswara managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the State government has issued orders to monitor the quality of prasadam in all temples in the State.
FSSAI has been focusing on the quality of raw materials and prasadams prepared during Navarathri Utsavam in all major temples in the State, said FSSAI Joint Food Controller APN Purnachandra Rao.
“Three food safety officers (FSOs) have been deployed at Sri Durga Malleswari Swamyvaarla Devasthanam in Vijayawada, to check the quality of prasadams every day during the Dasara Festivities. The FSOs will monitor the quality of the raw material used to prepare the prasadams, and and cooked varieties of prasadam,” said Mr. Purnachandra Rao A Hindu on Friday.
NTR District Collector Gummalla Srijana said instructions have been given to the Durga temple management to monitor the quality of all prasadam regularly.
“On the first day, samples of Laddu, Pongali again Anna prasadam were collected. Instructions have been given to the FSOs to follow the procedure every day during the utsavam,” said the State Joint Food Controller.
Following the instructions of the Food Safety Commissioner C. Hari Kiran, FSOs and food inspectors were monitoring the quality of prasadams in all major temples across the State during Dasara Utsavams.
FSO and inspectors will check the quality of prasadams at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, Sri Venkateswara Swamyvari Devasthanam in Dwaraka Tirumala, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamyvari Devasthanam in Simhachalam, Sri Bramaramba Mallikarjuna Devasthanarumma in Srisaimichilam Temple, Srisaimichim, Srisaimillam, Srisaichim, Srisaimi-Lakshmi, Simhachalam. in NTR district, Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamyvaari Devasthanam in Annavaram and other temples, said Mr. Purnachandra Rao.
“FSSAI checks the quality of milk, ghee, honey, oil, rice, jaggery, pulses, dry fruits, curd, tamarind, sugar and others used to make prasadams and Anna prasadams,” he said.
“We have confirmed samples of rice, sambar, milk, Bengal gram, jaggery and other raw materials at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvaarla Devasthanam. Stocks were good,” said FSO N. Ramesh Babu who was on duty.
Instructions have been given to the FSOs to check the standards of raw materials allowed to enter the warehouses and ensure the quality of all prasadam regularly, said Mr. Purnachandra Rao.
“FSOs and inspectors have also been directed to collect feedback from devotees visiting temples on the quality of prasadams offered during Dasara Utsavams,” the State Joint Food Controller said.
Published – October 04, 2024 03:37 pm IST