Lagatar24 Desk
Mathura: In light of growing concerns over the purity of temple offerings and prasadams, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) of Mathura conducted a major sampling drive, collecting 43 food samples from 15 shops in the Mathura, Vrindavan, and surrounding areas, officials confirmed on Monday.
Among the collected samples, which included sweets and milk-based products such as paneer, barfi, milk cake, rasgulla, and sonpapdi, one sample of ‘peda’ has been sent to Lucknow for further testing, FSDA Assistant Commissioner Dhirendra Pratap Singh said.
Temple Offerings Under Scrutiny
This campaign comes amidst heightened scrutiny following allegations of substandard ingredients in temple prasadams, particularly in the famed Tirupati laddus. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has claimed that animal fat and substandard ingredients were used during the previous administration, led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
While 42 food samples were found to meet the required standards, the ‘peda’ sample has been flagged for detailed analysis. “All samples were collected from shops near temples in Mathura over the weekend,” Singh added.
Wider National Concern
The FSDA’s move mirrors actions taken across other states. Rajasthan recently launched a purity verification drivefrom September 23 to 26, targeting bhogs and prasadams offered at temples, while Karnataka mandated Nandini gheein the preparation of temple prasadam.
In Uttar Pradesh, the FSDA has already collected 13 prasadam samples from prominent temples in Mathura as part of its testing initiatives.
Political Fallout and Investigation
The row escalated after Naidu’s allegations, prompting Jagan Mohan Reddy to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing Naidu of spreading falsehoods. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan urged Reddy to allow the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete its probe and punish the guilty, if necessary.
Stepping in, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a notice to A R Dairy Food Private Ltd, a ghee supplier to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), questioning why their licence should not be suspended following reports of adulteration.
The investigation into ghee supplies is ongoing, with samples undergoing tests at the NDDB CALF Lab in Anand, Gujarat. Further results are expected to clarify the allegations regarding the Tirupati laddus.
Future Actions
With public trust and temple sanctity at stake, the results of the ongoing tests are eagerly awaited. Authorities are intensifying efforts to ensure the purity of food products sold near religious sites to safeguard devotees’ faith.
More updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
