TTD installs Rs 25 crore French e-tongue and e-nose systems to test Tirupati prasadam ghee quality.

Key facts

• Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is establishing an ultra-modern food testing laboratory equipped with French-manufactured e-tongue and e-nose systems at a cost of Rs 25 crore.
• The e-tongue analyses taste patterns with high precision to detect subtle deterioration or adulteration in ghee and other raw materials.
• The e-nose evaluates aroma profiles to identify impurities or defects by replicating human sensory functions.
• The specialised instruments, worth around Rs 3.5 crore, are made in France and can detect microscopic variations in taste and smell not identifiable through conventional testing.
• The laboratory will test about 60 types of raw materials used in Srivari prasadam, including ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, almonds, Bengal gram, sugar, cardamom, turmeric, and chilli powder.
• It will also examine prasadam, drinking water, and food samples for pesticide residues (up to 200 types), heavy metals, microbial contamination, antibiotics, and other harmful substances.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sanctioned Rs 23 crore for the project.
• The 12,000 sq ft facility is being set up in a renovated two-storey building at the flour mill premises in Tirumala, with renovation work having begun in July last year.
• The laboratory will operate through specialised microbiology, chemistry, and sensory analysis divisions and will house about 50 advanced testing instruments.
• Around 40 personnel from the health department and TTD will be deployed to ensure smooth operations.