FDA to check 'prasad' quality at Mahalaxmi

KOLHAPUR: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday collected samples of sweets (laddus) from the Mahalaxmi temple following objections raised against the quality. The samples have been sent to the FDA's Kolhapur laboratory to undergo quality checks. The laddus are distributed as 'prasad' to devotees at the temple.

Objections about the quality of the laddus were raised by Lokshakti, a Kolhapur-based non-governmental organization. Chandrakant Khondre, member, Lokshakti, had registered a complaint with the FDA on Monday.

S M Deshmukh, additional commissioner, FDA, said, "We took action following a complaint registered with us by Lokshakti. We have taken samples of the laddus, the oil, flour and other ingredients used for preparing the laddus. All samples have been sent to our laboratory for tests and checks on the quality of the material used. The report is expected in two weeks and our course of action will depend on the report."

Laddus distributed at the temple are manufactured by the self-help group (SHG) Suvasini and are supplied to the Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti (PMDS). The PMDS had offered the SHG the contract through tenders in July 2014. The SHG has been supplying laddus at the temple since July 27, 2014.

"Our objections are that the organisation that manufactures the laddus does not have a valid licence. The packs in which the laddus are distributed do not have date of manufacture or expiry on them. The quality of laddus is not up to the mark," Khondre told TOI.

"The laddus are distributed in sealed polythene packs; one in each pack, sold for Rs 5 a pack. The packs do not have the name of manufacturer or the date of manufacture written on them, which is mandatory. The SHG has completed the formalities needed to manufacture laddus and has registered with the FDA. We will take action against the SHG for not mentioning the name of the manufacture and date of manufacturing once we receive the laboratory report," said Deshmukh.

Hiroji Devrao Parab, PMDS member, said, "We had given the contract to the SHG through a tender process. The SHG was bound to complete the formalities related to taking permission from the FDA and registration. It is the duty of the SHG to provide quality laddus to devotees. The PMDS should not be roped into the controversy and we are not responsible for the quality of the laddus, because we only distribute the product."

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