With E-Tongue & E-Nose Tech, Tirupati Temple To Get ₹25 Cr Food Lab For Laddu Quality Checks

Amid the adulterated ghee row linked to the preparation of the sacred and popular laddus at the Tirupati Temple, the government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to set up a new, cutting-edge Tirupati food lab to check and ensure the quality and safety of prasadam and other food served to devotees at the temple. Scroll down to know more about this initiative.

₹25 Crore Food Lab To Be Set Up In Tirupati

According to NDTV, the Andhra Pradesh government will establish a high-tech Tirupati food lab at an estimated cost of ₹25 crore to ensure the safety and quality of prasadam served at the Sri Venkateswara Temple. State Health and Medical Education Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said that the lab is nearly complete and is expected to begin operations next month.

He added that the food lab will be equipped with specialised machines—the ‘E-Tongue’ and ‘E-Nose’. These technologies will be imported from France and arrive in India by May this year and cost about ₹3.5 crore. The E-Tongue machine is capable of detecting even minute variations in the quality of ghee. Meanwhile, the E-Nose system will analyse aroma profiles, enabling authorities to identify adulteration and quality defects in ghee and other ingredients used in preparing the popular laddus.

Also Read: USA Cricket Team Visits Tirupati Temple For Darshan Amid ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Why Is This Lab Required?

The food lab is being constructed within a refurbished 12,000 sq. ft. two-story building at Tirumala, with 50 sophisticated instruments for microbiology, chemistry, and sensory evaluation. According to Deccan Herald, this upcoming food lab in Tirupati will test more than 60 raw materials that are used in Tirumala prasadam preparation. This includes ghee, cashews, raisins, almonds, chickpeas, sugar, cardamom, turmeric, and chilli. Furthermore, it will also be testing the water samples of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Once completely set up, 40 personnel from the Health Department and TTD will oversee the lab.

Also Read: Heading To Tirupati Temple? Indian Railways Extends Pandharpur-Tirupati Special Trains Till March

Let us know your thoughts about this upcoming, state-of-the-art food lab in Tirupati in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & Pinterest/sridhar srinivasan