Thiruvananthapuram: Food Safety Authority licence has been made mandatory for ‘prasa-dams’ and other food items being sold at worship centres in the state. This would come into effect from September 1, an official statement from food safety commissioner said.
According to the statement, food safety norms will also be applicable to ‘anna danams’ and distribution of sweets as part of festivals at worship centres.
Worship centres must ensure quality of prasadams and food items being offered to devotees. Only good quality ingredients must be used to make the prasadams. Bills of the items purchased for making the prasadams and food items must also be properly maintained. Hygiene of the kitchen and store rooms should be also ensured, said the statement.
The food safety commissioner also informed that drinking water being offered to devotees at the temples should be subjected to quality test regularly.
The food safety commissioner also informed that the food safety standards being maintained by the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and food safety licencing being followed for conducting ‘anna danams’ by various organisations during the Attukal Pongala festival could be considered as models.
