Amaravati, February 23 Amidst controversies over the quality of ghee supplied to the TTD, the temple body is set to deploy a modern food testing laboratory equipped with advanced electronic systems, such as an "e-tongue" and "e-nose," to ensure stringent quality checks and maintain transparency in supplies.
Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has said that the ultra-modern laboratory, costing Rs 25 crore, is nearing completion.
"The 'e-Tongue' and 'e-Nose' ultra-modern food laboratory can detect even micro-level quality deterioration in ghee. These labs will soon be available in Tirumala," Yadav said in an official press release.
He said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sanctioned Rs 23 crore for the project, and an agreement was signed in New Delhi on October 8, 2024.
He noted that while the main laboratory will commence operations next month, the procurement and installation of the 'e-Tongue' and 'e-Nose' systems may take time until May before they are fully operational.
The laboratory will conduct sample testing under microbiology, chemistry, and sensory divisions, examining 'prasadam', food items, water, and all raw materials used in preparation, he said.
Samples will be screened for pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbes, and antibiotics, while the facility will have around 50 advanced instruments capable of detecting nearly 200 pesticide residues.
"Just as humans detect smell and taste through the nose and tongue, these systems analyze the aroma and flavour profiles of 'prasadam' (consecrated food items) and raw materials," the press release said.
Following the issue of adulterated ghee in Tirumala, the Centre sanctioned an additional Rs 3.5 crore, he said, adding that specialized gas cylinders for the machines will be imported from France.
According to Yadav, the 'e-Tongue' system, being procured from France, is capable of detecting even micro-level deterioration in ghee and other raw materials by analyzing taste patterns with high precision.
Similarly, the 'e-Nose' system functions by assessing aroma profiles, enabling authorities to identify adulteration and quality defects in ghee and other ingredients used in preparing 'prasadam'.
Currently, only a limited number of laboratories across the country have these facilities, the release said. However, for the first time in Andhra Pradesh, an ultra-modern lab with advanced facilities is coming up in a pilgrim centre, it added.
The facility is 90 per cent complete and will begin operations next month, he said, adding that the labs will test around 60 raw materials used in preparing 'laddu prasadam', including ghee and dry fruits.
He added that around 40 personnel from various cadres will be deployed jointly by the Health Department and the TTD to manage the facility, and a separate agreement on operations will be signed soon.
An old two-storied building measuring about 12,000 square feet in the flour mill premises at Tirumala has been converted into the laboratory, with works commencing in July last year.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is the official custodian of the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, the richest Hindu shrine in the world.