High level verification of prasad should be done across all temples in the country : AFDLHF

Mumbai – Prasad distributed in temples should be given special status. The ‘All Food and Drugs License Holder Foundation’ (AFDLHF) has demanded that guidelines should be established for making prasad. Also, high-level verification of prasad across all temples in the country should be done. AFDLHF President Abhay Pandey has sent a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding this.

The demand has been made in the background of beef fat being used in the prasad laddus of the famous Shri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. In a letter to the FSSAI, Abhay Pandey wrote that there is no facility to detect adulteration in ghee, milk and other products supplied to the temples. The temple administration does not even use any available facility for the same. The case of ‘Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’ has revealed that the suppliers who supply the material to the temple are taking advantage of this. Therefore, the FSSAI should instruct the local Food and Drug Administration to periodically verify the prasad distributed to temples in each State. Tirupati Devasthanam has played with the emotions and beliefs of the devotees. Devotees all over the country have been enraged by this case. After the incident in Tirupati, there has been a need to verify the prasad in all the temples in the country.

Declare a list of prohibited items for making prasad within 7 days

The FSSAI should declare within 7 days, the list of ingredients that should not be used in the making of prasad. Strict action should be taken against the violators of these guidelines. In a letter sent to the FSSAI, AFDLHF has said that if immediate action is not taken, they would approach the Court.