Laddoo samples found to be 'pathetic', highly adulterated: Tirupati temple official

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer stated that five lab tests confirmed the use of lard (pig fat) and poor-quality ghee in laddoos distributed to the devotees of Lord Venkateswara shrine.

In Short

• Ghee quality found to be very poor in tests, says temple official
• Palm oil, animal fat, beef tallow were also detected
• Chandrabadu Naidu had highlighted matter and supplier was blacklisted, he says

The Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shyamala Rao, on Friday said that five lab tests were conducted after allegations of animal fat being used in laddoos, and contamination of multiple ingredients were confirmed. He said that the laddoos samples were found to be 'pathetic' and were highly adulterated with lard (pig fat).

The officer noted that the quality of the ghee was abysmally low and the ghee suppliers to the temple body took advantage of the lack of an in-house adulteration testing facility and also not making use of outside facilities.

"Ghee suppliers took advantage of the lack of testing facilities within the temple administration. Officials found the samples to be 'pathetic'," the Executive Officer said during a press briefing.

He further added, "This is not a single instance of contamination. It was found that animal fat was also present. Though the sample appeared to be ghee, the test results indicated it was not".

Palm oil and beef tallow were also found to be present in the samples, he said.

Rao also mentioned that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had previously raised concerns about complaints of animal fat being used in the laddoos.

According to the officer, after four reports gave similar findings about the extremely poor quality, the TTD set up an expert committee, which gave a report.

"We immediately stopped the supplies and also initiated the blacklisting procedure of the supplier company," Rao said, adding that legal and penal processes are underway.

A massive row erupted on Thursday after Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddoos. A subsequent lab report also confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos distributed to the devotees of the shrine.