Gandhinagar: After seizure of substandard ghee being used in the Mohanthal Prasad at Ambaji temple, the temple trust has chosen to appoint the Ahmedabad-based Touchstone Foundation to oversee the prasad’s preparation. The Ambaji temple trust issued a statement announcing that Touchstone Foundation will be responsible for preparing Mohanthal Prasad at the temple for a period of six months.

The proposal to select Touchstone Foundation for this role was sent to the state government on August 29 and received approval in an October 3 letter. State government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel clarified that both Touchstone Foundation and Akshaya Patra are linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), and the state government has authorized Touchstone Foundation to handle the preparation of Mohanthal Prasad for the Ambaji temple.

Earlier in the day, Patel has said that the government took serious note of the substandard ghee supplied by Mohini Caterers to the Ambaji temple. An FIR has been lodged in connection with this matter, and the government is committed to ensuring that devotees receive hygienic and high-quality mohanthal prasad.

In August, the Food and Drug Control Administration had seized 2,820kg of substandard ghee valued at Rs 8 lakh from Mohini Caterers. A total of 188 tins, each containing 15kg of ghee, were confiscated after ghee samples were found to be adulterated.