Ayodhya Ram Temple Receives FSSAI’s ‘Eat Right Place of Worship’ Certification

As per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh is recognized as a place of worship under the category of “Eat Right Place of Worship” owing to the connection between the two regarding food safety and hygiene standards. The certificate is valid up to 10th of October 2028. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India CEO, Mr. Rajit Punhani has presented the certificate at a ceremony organized in Ayodhya on 10 October 2026. The main purpose of this program is to ensure the food hygiene during the preparation and distribution of prasad and langar.

What Is the ‘Eat Right Place of Worship’ Initiative?

‘Eat Right Places of Worship’ is an initiative of FSSAI towards improving food safety and hygiene practices at religious institutions. The scheme aims at promoting the practices of maintaining food safety and hygiene at places of worship during the process of food preparation and distribution among devotees.

The initiative also aims at preventing any sort of food adulteration and food preparation irregularities.

Objectives of the Eat Right Places of Worship Initiative

This initiative aims at enhancing food safety practices at places of worship that prepare and distribute prasad and langar.

Some of its main objectives are as follows,

• Hygiene of food: Ensuring hygiene in food preparation, preservation and distribution.
• Hygiene in the religious food: Minimizing the chances of contamination and adulteration in prasad and langar.
• Training: Enhancing the food safety practices of the food handlers.
• Awareness: Ensuring the proper food handling by places of worship and devotees.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with the food safety standards and regulations.

How Does the FSSAI Certify Religious Institutions?

This certification process entails the evaluation of the food safety and hygiene practices in the organization. According to the process outlined in the programme, the process consists of preliminary audits, training of the food handlers and finally an audit carried out by a third party.

This is an assessment of whether the religious institutions adhere to food safety practices.