On Thursday, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) presented a lab report indicating the presence of “beef tallow,” “pig lard,” and “fish oil” in the famous Tirupati laddus offered at the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
AR Dairy Food Private Limited, a supplier of ghee, has been accused of providing “substandard quality” products to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which oversees the temple and the production of the laddus. This Tamil Nadu-based dairy company, established in 1995, is managed by directors Rajasekaran R, Suria Prabha R, and Srinivasan SR, as stated on their website.
In response to the allegations, the company clarified that it only supplied milk to TTD during June and July and that accredited lab reports were provided with each shipment. “There is no possibility of animal fat being present in the ghee,” asserted Rajasekaran R, the company director, in an interview with News18. He emphasized that only cow milk is used for their ghee, with each batch tested thoroughly before dispatch.
Another official pointed out that the Gujarat laboratory responsible for the controversial report had not disclosed its name, suggesting that further analysis of the report is necessary.
Suppliers, including Amul, have also denied any allegations regarding impurities in their milk.
In light of the escalating political controversy, Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi has called for an investigation into the matter. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of initiating the use of animal fat in the Tirupati laddus, prompting Union Health Minister JP Nadda to request a detailed report from the chief minister regarding the issue.
