FSSAI to implement quality testing of ‘Prasada’ in 4 temples in Karnataka coast

Udupi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Government of India has implemented the ‘Bhog’ program to check the quality of ‘Prasada’ distributed at religious centers. In the coastal belt of Karnataka, the program will be implemented in four temples.

The government aims to provide ‘Prasada’ of good quality to the devotees. Four coastal temples have been selected in the initial phase, and the number is expected to increase in the coming days. The committee members will monitor the products used in the Prasada, how they are stored and processed. They will also suggest the items that should not be used in Prasada.

FSSAI will provide quality inspection services to temples through the Bhog program. Four temples have been selected for this purpose, said Dr. Premananda, District Food Security Officer, Udupi.

Kollur in Udupi district,  Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temples in Dakshina Kannada district, and  Sirsi Marikamba temples in Uttara Kannada have been selected in the initial phase. The people who prepare the Prasada will be trained in Hygiene practices, he said.

Prasada is distributed at temples is not uniform across India. It is prepared according to different diets in different places in the country. Prasada needs to be prepared in a safe manner for the consumption of devotees. The department has embarked on this delicate mission of ensuring quality while keeping to the customs of the temples.

(Translated from an original article in Kannada by Puneeth Salian)