Significant Updates

Emphasising that the health and safety of pilgrims remain a top priority, TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary has urged hoteliers and food vendors in Tirumala to follow hygienic food-handling practices and conduct regular food safety audits in accordance with prescribed standards.

Three-Day Training Programme Begins

A three-day training programme for street food vendors commenced at the SV Museum Auditorium in Tirumala. The initiative has been jointly organised by the TTD Health Department, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Nestlé India. The programme covers 325 food establishments and around 1,300 food handlers working in the hill town.

Focus on Hygiene and Food Safety

Addressing the participants, Chowdary appreciated Nestlé India for conducting the training under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and noted that the company had chosen Tirumala as the first location in Andhra Pradesh for the programme. He said that maintaining high standards of food hygiene would further enhance the reputation of the spiritual destination. Referring to the hygiene measures followed in the preparation and distribution of annaprasadam, he encouraged private eateries to adopt similar standards. Chowdary also recommended conducting such training programmes every six months to improve awareness and strengthen food safety practices among hoteliers and street food vendors.

Practical Training and Safety Kits

He stressed the importance of including statutory requirements and hands-on practical sessions in the training programme to reinforce safe food-handling practices. Later, the Additional EO distributed safety kits containing caps, gloves, aprons, and soaps to the participants. Deputy EO (Health) Soman Narayana, Health Officer Dr Sudha Rani, Quality Manager Lakshmi Narayana Reddy, Nestlé India Corporate Affairs Manager Waseem Ahmed, health department officials, hoteliers, and street food vendors attended the programme.

Source: The Hindu