Tirupati TTD temple to get Rs 25 crore French ‘e-tongue, e-nose’ to test prasadam ghee quality

Amid ongoing controversies over the quality of ghee supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple body is set to deploy a state-of-the-art food testing laboratory equipped with advanced “e-tongue” and “e-nose” systems to ensure stringent quality checks and greater transparency in supplies.

TTD administers the world-famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati, where lakhs of devotees consume the sacred laddu prasadam every day. A row had erupted in 2024 after it was claimed that adulterated ghee was supplied to the temple. CBI filed a chargesheet on the same in January this year.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the ultra-modern laboratory, being established at a cost of Rs 25 crore, is nearly 90% complete and is expected to become operational next month.


In an official release, Yadav said the advanced electronic systems will be capable of detecting even microscopic levels of quality deterioration in ghee and other ingredients. “The e-tongue and e-nose-equipped ultra-modern food laboratory can identify even micro-level changes in quality. These facilities will soon be available in Tirumala,” he said.

All about the French lab

The e-tongue system scientifically analyses taste patterns with high precision and can detect subtle deterioration or adulteration in ghee and other raw materials. Similarly, the e-nose system evaluates aroma profiles, enabling authorities to identify impurities or defects by replicating the sensory functions of the human nose.

The specialised instruments, worth around Rs 3.5 crore, are manufactured in France and designed to detect microscopic variations in taste and smell that may not be identifiable through conventional testing methods.

The laboratory will test around 60 types of raw materials used in preparing 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 facility, spread across 12,000 sq ft, 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 function 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.

Currently, only a limited number of laboratories in India have such advanced sensory testing systems. Officials said the Tirumala facility will be the first ultra-modern food testing laboratory of its kind at a major pilgrim centre in Andhra Pradesh.