Tirupati Laddoo Row: Temple Board Assures Devotees Amid Claims Of Animal Fat In Prasadam

Amid rising worries among devotees regarding the purity of the renowned Tirupati ‘laddu prasadam,’ the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) assured that the sanctity of this sacred offering has been reinstated. This reassurance follows a lab test report that detected traces of “foreign fat” in the ghee used for the laddus. The Centre has requested a report on the situation, while Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi has called for an investigation into the claims.

TTD’s Assurance

In a social media update on Friday night, TTD, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, stated that the divinity and purity of the Srivari Laddu are now “unblemished.” The temple board emphasized its commitment to maintaining the holiness of the Laddu Prasadam for all devotees, asserting, “The divinity and purity of Srivari laddu is unblemished now.”

TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao confirmed that lab tests had detected animal fat and lard in specific samples, and the board is in the process of blacklisting the contractor responsible for supplying the ‘adulterated’ ghee.

Also Read: Tirupati To Install Adulteration Testing Machine By January

Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Rebuttal

Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the allegations as “diversion politics” by the ruling TDP. He explained that the tender process occurs biannually, with unchanged qualification criteria for decades. “TTD collects samples from the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. TDP is politicizing religious matters,” Reddy stated. He also noted that his administration had rejected products 18 times during its tenure and expressed intentions to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice DY Chandrachud regarding the issue.

Lab Findings: ‘Foreign Fat’

The ghee used for the prasadam was tested at the National Dairy Board in Gujarat, which discovered traces of “foreign fat.” According to a report from the National Dairy Development Board’s Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food, the sample indicated the presence of “beef tallow, pig fat, and fish oil.” The report, dated July 16, followed a sample collection on July 9, 2024.

The report detailed that if any S-value falls outside the acceptable limits, the sample is considered to contain foreign fat, raising further concerns over the quality of the ghee used in the famous laddus.

The Controversy

The Srivari Laddu, a primary offering at the temple for over 300 years, has recently come under scrutiny. The newly elected TDP government has accused the former YSRCP government of “adulteration,” claiming that animal fat replaced pure ghee, leading to growing concerns. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated, “Even after numerous complaints, authorities had failed to maintain the sanctity of the revered prasadam,” further alleging that not only were adulterated ingredients used, but also animal fat.

The temple administration acknowledged the presence of sub-standard ghee and lard in tested samples, supporting the claims made by Naidu.