'Animal fat' in Tirupati laddus: Who supplied ghee to Balaji temple and why did Nandini opt out? Who said what?

Sep 21, 2024 07:27 AM IST

The controversy surrounding the use of animal fat in the famous Tirupati laddus has sparked a massive political debate in Andhra Pradesh, as the sacredness of the prasadam has come under scrutiny. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the iconic Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, has backed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that the laddus contained animal fat. This claim, however, has been fiercely disputed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), who called the accusations “atrocious.”

**The Centre’s Involvement**

As the debate escalated, Union Health Minister JP Nadda stepped in, requesting a detailed report from the Andhra Pradesh government and assuring that appropriate actions would be taken once the matter was thoroughly examined. Food Minister Pralhad Joshi also called for an investigation to verify the allegations. 

**What TTD Revealed**

During a press conference, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao revealed that lab tests indicated the presence of foreign substances in the ghee used for the laddus, including 'lard' (pig fat) and other impurities. TTD announced that the supplier responsible for this adulterated ghee would be blacklisted. 

Shyamala Rao pointed out that the lack of an in-house testing facility at the TTD allowed suppliers to take advantage of the situation. The suppliers provided ghee at prices between ₹320 and ₹411 per kilogram, which Rao described as an unsustainable price for pure cow ghee. Despite warnings, four ghee tankers sent by AR Foods were found to be of substandard quality, with lab results suggesting the presence of foreign fats, including palm kernel fat, lard, and even beef tallow.

**TDP’s Claims**

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) intensified the row by presenting a lab report allegedly confirming the presence of "beef tallow," "lard," and "fish oil" in the ghee used by TTD. The report, dated July 16, 2024, came from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, further igniting the controversy.

**Chandrababu Naidu’s Response**

During a public meeting in Prakasam district, CM Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the previous government under YSRCP had procured inferior quality ghee, which compromised the sacredness of the Tirupati laddus. He announced that the ghee supplier had been changed and that Nandini brand ghee, produced by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), was now being used to ensure quality. Naidu addressed concerns that the alleged adulteration had hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and vowed not to spare those responsible for what he called "unpardonable mistakes."

**Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Rebuttal**

YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the allegations as "diversion politics," accusing the TDP of fabricating the story to distract from the shortcomings of Naidu’s government. Reddy argued that the public was already frustrated with the state’s governance and that this issue was concocted to shift attention. He further added that all tests and samples cited in the controversy had taken place under the NDA government's watch, implying that the allegations lacked credibility.

Reddy expressed his outrage over the issue, stating that it was unfair to play with the emotions of millions of devotees and accusing Naidu of exploiting religious sentiments for political gains. Reddy also announced his intention to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to address the matter.

**AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd’s Stand**

AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd, the Tamil Nadu-based company that supplied ghee to the Tirupati temple, denied the allegations, stating that their products had passed all quality checks before being supplied to the temple. The company clarified that it had only supplied ghee during June and July and that all their batches had accompanying lab reports certifying their quality.

**Amul’s Clarification**

Amul, a well-known dairy brand, also became embroiled in the controversy after rumours spread on social media that it had supplied ghee to the Tirumala temple. The company swiftly issued a statement, clarifying that it had never supplied ghee to the TTD and that its ghee was made from pure milk fat, adhering to strict quality control standards.

**Why Did Nandini Stop Supplying Ghee?**

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which produces Nandini ghee, halted its ghee supply to the Tirupati temple in 2023 after it was unable to match the lower prices offered by other suppliers. KMF maintained that lowering its prices would compromise the quality of its product and harm its farmers. However, under a directive from CM Chandrababu Naidu, KMF resumed supplying Nandini ghee to the Tirupati temple in recent months to ensure the laddus were made with high-quality ingredients.

Karnataka Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy has since announced that Nandini ghee would be used exclusively in the prasadam at all major temples in Karnataka. He also declared that all temple prasadam would undergo quality checks to ensure purity.

**Former Temple Priest’s Reaction**

The former chief priest of the Tirupati temple, Ramana Deekshitulu, expressed his dismay over the reports of adulteration in the laddus. He stated that he had raised concerns about the quality of the ingredients with temple authorities in the past but received no response. Deekshitulu urged CM Naidu to take immediate action to rectify the situation and restore the integrity of the sacred prasadam.

**What Is Beef Tallow?**

Beef tallow is a form of rendered fat extracted from beef cuts such as rump roast, ribs, and steaks. Its alleged presence in the ghee used for the Tirupati laddus has become the focal point of the controversy, as it violates the religious sentiments of the temple’s devotees.

The political and religious implications of this controversy have made it a sensitive issue in Andhra Pradesh, with both the TDP and YSRCP trading accusations over the alleged adulteration of the sacred Tirupati laddus.