Officials will also check hotels, restaurants and eateries located around these temples to inspect the quality of raw materials and cooked food for the benefit of devotees
Vijayawada: Food safety officers (FSOs) will start checking the quality of food and prasadam being offered to devotees at all Sivayalams a few days ahead of the Maha Shivaratri festival, which will be observed on February 26 in Andhra Pradesh.
The FSOs will check the quality of raw materials like rice, dal, cooking oil, ghee and food colours used in the preparation of food and prasadam given to devotees. They will check the expiry date of raw materials and packaged commodities to ensure that devotees do not face any health hazards.
Authorities say food items, whether raw, cooked or boiled, meant for free distribution or sale to devotees will be thoroughly checked. In case of any complaints or suspicion, their samples will be sent to the State Food Lab at Nacharam in Hyderabad for analysis.
Officials will also check hotels, restaurants and eateries located around these temples to inspect the quality of raw materials and cooked food for the benefit of devotees.
Shivalayams, which will be under inspection of FSOs include those at Kotappakonda and Amaravati in Guntur district, Lord Durga Malleswara Temple in Vijayawada and those located in Srisailam and Nandyal districts.
Each temple will have a minimum of one or two or even four FSOs based on need, according to Food Safety joint controller N. Poornachandra Rao.
