Guidelines issued on food distribution for Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple consecration
The Madurai district administration has issued strict food safety and hygiene guidelines for the upcoming Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple consecration. Organizers must register with the FSSAI, avoid artificial additives, and use eco-friendly packaging to ensure public health.
Why it matters
Large-scale religious gatherings pose significant public health risks, making standardized food safety protocols essential for preventing foodborne illnesses.
In the run-up to the grand consecration festival of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple slated for September 17, the district administration and Food Safety Department have rolled out strict safety, hygiene, and eco-friendly protocols for all food and refreshment distributions.
According to officials, all free food (annadanam), prasadam, soft drinks, buttermilk, sweets, and drinking water provided during the festival must be clean, hygienic, and entirely free of artificial additives or chemical colours.
Upholding the Tamil Nadu government’s environmental directives, the food safety official noted that the use of polythene bags and banned plastic packaging materials will be strictly prohibited across all festival venues.
Organisers and donors have been instructed to use eco-friendly alternatives such as banana leaves, areca nut leaf plates, or paper cups for serving food and beverages, he added.
Further, organisers must ensure that only high-quality raw materials with verified manufacturing and expiry dates are used for food preparation.
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