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Andhra Pradesh to Open ₹25-Crore Tirumala Food Lab Next Month to Safeguard Prasadam

Backed by FSSAI funding, the nearly finished facility is slated to open next month to rebuild trust after a court‑monitored ghee adulteration probe.

Overview

  • Civil works are about 90% complete, with operations targeted for March and final installation of sophisticated systems expected by May.
  • Key equipment includes French-made e‑Tongue and e‑Nose units worth roughly ₹3.5 crore to flag minute quality deviations, especially in ghee.
  • The renovated 12,000 sq ft flour‑mill building will house about 50 instruments for microbiology, chemistry and sensory analysis run by roughly 40 staff.
  • The lab will routinely test around 60 inputs and finished items, including ghee, dry fruits, spices, sugar and water, screening for pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbes and antibiotics.
  • FSSAI has sanctioned ₹23 crore under an October 8, 2024 agreement, following an SIT report that alleged use of adulterated ghee worth around ₹250 crore between 2019 and 2024.