TTD sets up advanced FSSAI lab in Tirumala

In the wake of nationwide concern over alleged adulteration in the ghee used for Tirumala Srivari Laddu prasadam, the Andhra Pradesh government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have initiated robust measures to safeguard the purity of temple offerings. As part of these efforts, a state-of-the-art Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) laboratory has been established in Tirumala, marking the first such facility of its kind within a temple ecosystem in the country.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to inaugurate the advanced laboratory on March 21. The facility has been developed under the joint supervision of the central government, TTD, and the Andhra Pradesh Food Safety Department.

Spread across 12,000 square feet, the laboratory has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 19.75 crore, with an additional Rs. 60 lakh spent on supporting infrastructure such as generators and transformers. Notably, the project was completed in a record time of just nine months, underscoring the urgency attached to strengthening food safety mechanisms at one of the country’s most visited pilgrimage centres.

The lab is equipped with cutting-edge analytical instruments, including Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Bomb Calorimeter, and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). These technologies enable detection of even minute levels of adulteration in food products. In addition to testing ghee, the lab will routinely analyse other raw materials used in prasadam preparation, such as oils, milk, pulses, and water quality parameters like chloride and sulphate levels.

Officials said the facility houses dedicated chemical and microbiology divisions, allowing comprehensive testing and quality assurance within Tirumala itself. This eliminates the need to send samples to external laboratories, thereby speeding up verification processes and ensuring continuous monitoring.

Further enhancing its capabilities, the lab is set to receive advanced sensory detection equipment such as “e-nose” and “e-tongue” systems within the next two months. Funded with Rs. 3 crore sanctioned by the Centre following TTD’s request, these devices can instantly determine the purity of ghee based on smell and taste profiles, enabling rapid and highly accurate assessments.

The establishment of this high-tech lab reflects a decisive move by the state government and TTD to restore public confidence and maintain the sanctity of temple prasadam through stringent, technology-driven quality control measures.