Food regulator asks states to make ‘prasad’ safer

NEW DELHI: The country’s food safety regulator has asked the states to roll out a project to ensure that devotees are served safe ‘prasad’ at places of worship. “…You are requested to roll out the project BHOG in your state/ UT and also nominate a nodal officer for this initiative,” FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said in an order on January 29.

DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN A TEMPLE, MOSQUE, CHURCH OR A GURDWARA REQUIRES A LICENCE FROM THE FOOD QUALITY REGULATOR

NEW DELHI: The country’s food safety regulator has asked states to roll out a project to ensure that devotees were served safe ‘prasad’ at places of worship.

Every day, an estimated 300 million people visit places of worship across the country and receive food, which can be a small portion or a complete meal like the ‘langar’ served in gurdwaras.

Distributing food in a temple, mosque, church or a gurdwara requires a licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These places of worship must also follow foodsafety guidelines.

“…You are requested to roll out the project BHOG in your state/ut and also nominate a nodal officer for this initiative,” FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said in an order issued on January 29.

Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, or BHOG, is a part of FSSAI’S safe and nutritious food bouquet of initiatives launched a year ago and workshops were conducted for ‘prasad’ handlers and vendors. In his order, accessed by HT, Agarwal again offered workshops and training.

The popular Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu and Somnath in Gujarat are among those who sent people for training to meet FSSAI’S quality and hygiene standards.

“This directive is to ensure proper regulatory compliance as it is important to improve the level of food safety and hygiene in their (places of worship) premises,” Agarwal said.