Tamil Nadu: Expiry date for temple prasadhams soon, says food safety commissioner

CHENNAI: Devotees can taste the prasadhams sold in all prominent TN temples without a health concern and the prasadhams sold will soon come with an expiry date, food safety commissioner P. Amudha told DC. According to the no nonsense officer, all the popular TN temples that sell prasadham should now adhere to the food safety standards and the food items prepared in the madapallis have to undergo a set of prescribed rules as per food safety Act.

A preliminary meeting in this regard had already been held and a training programme for cooks and suppliers handling prasadhams will be conducted next month. Senior officials of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department and food safety department are on the job preparing a module that would further enhance the quality of food served for the devout, Ms Amudha added.

According to food safety department officials, the popular prasadham items like laddu, adhirasam, murukku and thattai served in temples will now have manufacturing and expiry dates and there is a also plan to add the details of food content and its nutrient value in the pack. Rice items like pongal and puliyodharai will now be periodically checked by the food safety department. Further the system of serving prasadhams in banana leave cups and palm leaves will continue.