TTD kitchen must get licence: FSSAI

Direction to licensing body comes after RTI plea on laddu

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has written to the Central Licensing Authority in Chennai to inspect the ‘pottu’ in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in Andhra Pradesh where the laddu is prepared, and directed it to obtain a central licence to run the kitchen.

Last October, following an RTI application by Bengaluru-based activist T. Narasimhamurthy, the director of the food safety management system had insisted that the TTD obtain a food safety licence like any other Food Business Operator for the famed Tirupati laddu. But there was no response, said Mr. Narasimhamurthy.

In December 2016, he sent a letter to the Director, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Andhra Pradesh, seeking the prosecution of TTD officials under Section 62 (obstructing food safety officer) and 63 (punishment for carrying out business without a licence). “As there was no proper response, I sent a legal notice to the institute of Preventive Medicine on March 18, 2017. In response to this, the FSSAI sent me a letter updating me on the action taken,” he said.

In the FSSAI letter, dated March 29, 2017 Prabhat Kumar Mishra, assistant director (regulatory compliance), FSSAI, has directed its central licensing wing to carry out inspection and direct the temple administration to obtain the license under the provision of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Speaking toThe Hindu , M. Kannan, deputy director, central licensing authority, Chennai, said he had already sent a letter to the TTD ten days ago asking them time to inspect the kitchen. “They haven’t replied till date. We will wait for five more days or will inspect the premises as per law,” he said.
Legal notice
“As there was no proper response, I sent a legal notice to the institute of Preventive Medicine on March 18, 2017. In response, the FSSAI sent me a letter updating me on the action taken,” he said.