The much sought after Tirupati Laddu could soon be more durable, with its shelf life extended up to 15 days. This would be possible with the help of hi-tech packaging.
In a way, the laddu can easily go global, reach more remote places of the country and people will be able to store and consume it over a longer period without any worry.
The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is in talks with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for offering the laddus in a hi-tech package, according to its Director N C Saha.
“I had a personal discussion with TTD Chairman earlier and recently wrote a letter suggesting that we can provide consultancy for integrating packaging into the automated process of making the laddus,’’ he told reporters on the sidelines of a national meet on trends in packaging here on Friday.
As laddus are being prepared with ghee the process of oxidation would make them unfit for consumption after two/three days. “We have suggested a vacuum pack the cost of which will be about 50 paise,” the IIP chief said.
However, given the fact that about four lakh laddus have to be produced daily, packing them would be a technological challenge, he felt.
IIP plans to overcome this by using the German vacuum packaging machines. “A single machine can pack 300 laddus per minute and at least 100 machines will have to be imported,” he suggested.
A longer life for the laddus would be a blessing in disguise for the non-resident Indians as Indian Diaspora has a taste for them given the large devotee-base of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati.
Interestingly, the latest tourist statistics put Andhra Pradesh as the number one State, solely on the basis of the number of pilgrims visiting Tirupati.
MID-DAY MEAL safety
The institute is also running a research project on making the mid-day meals safe with biodegradable closed package using coconut shells.
“If the meal is packed immediately after it is cooked, unfortunate events like death of some children after consuming meal in a Bihar school can be avoided,” Saha said.
IIP had surveyed 26 schools in six states so far. “We hope to come up with some packaging solution by March next year,” he added.