Dharma in the Hands of Adharmiks: Tirupati laddus contain beef fat, fish oil, confirms lab report.

Tirupati row: ‘Lab report’ confirms beef tallow, fish oil in ghee used to make laddu prasadam.

B Upendran | HENB | Hyderabad | Sept 19, 2024:: A shocking test report from a central government laboratory revealed that the cow ghee procured by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) contains unacceptable contaminants, including fish oil, beef tallow, and pig-derived lard. Such state of affairs confirm the reality of ‘Dharma in the Hands of Adharmikas’.

The TTD sources this ghee for preparing various sacred offerings (Prasadams), notably the renowned Tirupati Laddu, sold to devotees visiting the revered Tirumala hill shrine. Lard, a semi-solid fat extracted from pig tissue, is strictly prohibited in Hindu rituals including the  beef tallow and fish oil. .

Approximately 350,000 Tirupati Laddus are produced daily at the Tirumala temple, raising concerns about the unintended consumption of non-vegetarian products by pilgrims.

Telugu Desham Party (TDP) leaders recently revealed shocking reports from the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock & Food (CALF) lab, which confirmed the presence of animal fat in the ghee procured by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). This ghee is used to make sacred offerings, including the famous Tirupati Laddu, sold to devotees visiting the Tirumala hill shrine.

Ghee is an integral part of Indian cuisine and Hindu rituals, prized for its rich nutrient profile, potential medicinal properties, and cultural significance . However, adulteration can compromise its quality and sanctity. It’s essential to ensure the authenticity and purity of ghee, especially when used in sacred contexts.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently sparked controversy at an NDA meeting by claiming that the YSRCP regime used animal fat to make Tirupati Laddus. This allegation was made during a discussion about the quality of ingredients used in the sacred sweets during the previous government’s tenure ¹. According to Naidu, substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in place of pure ghee, which is a crucial component of the Tirupati Laddu prasadam offered at the revered Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.

The YSRCP party has strongly denied these claims, with senior leader YV Subba Reddy terming Naidu’s allegations as “malicious” and stating that the TDP supremo would “stoop to any level for political gain”. The Karnataka Milk Federation also issued a clarification, stating that they had not supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board during the YSRCP regime and only began supplying Nandhini Ghee after the TDP came to power.

Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, a TDP official spokesperson, has made some serious allegations against the YSRCP regime regarding the quality of ghee used in Tirupati Laddus. According to Reddy, tests conducted by the National Dairy Development Board lab revealed that the ghee samples contained unacceptable contaminants, including fish oil, beef tallow, and lard, in addition to other ingredients like soybean and palm oil .

Reddy claims that this exposes the YSRCP’s misdeeds and lack of adherence to quality standards in ghee procurement. He also questioned how the TTD could award contracts to four suppliers for 15,000 kg of ghee at a tender price of Rs 320, when quality ghee costs over Rs 1000. Reddy suspects that bribes were involved and pointed out that there was no lab certification for cow ghee.

It’s worth noting that Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy is a seasoned politician with a long history of public service. He has held various ministerial positions in the Andhra Pradesh state cabinet and is currently serving as a cabinet minister . His statements carry significant weight, and this issue could have major implications for the YSRCP regime.

YV Subba Reddy, a Rajya Sabha member from YSRCP and former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has fired back at Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s claims that animal fat was used in the iconic Tirupati Laddu prasadam between 2019 and 2024. Reddy is demanding clarification and proof from Naidu to back up his allegations, and if none is provided, he’s threatening to file a defamation suit.

Reddy maintains that TTD has been using special ghee from the milk of ‘desi’ cow breeds in their Goshalas to make Naivedyam for Lord Sri Venkateswara, the presiding deity of Tirumala temple, for the past few years. This suggests that the ghee used is of high quality and sourced from traditional Indian cow breeds.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to take legal action against those responsible for allegedly desecrating the sanctity of the Tirumala Laddu, following a lab report from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) that revealed substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in the sacred offering. Naidu emphasized that no one will be spared, regardless of their influence, and that the government will take action once evidence is gathered.

The controversy surrounds the use of animal fat, including fish oil, beef tallow, and lard, in the Tirupati Laddu, which is considered a sacred offering to Lord Sri Venkateswara. The TDP has circulated a lab report confirming the adulteration, while the YSRCP has condemned Naidu’s statements as “heinous allegations” aimed at achieving political mileage.

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__Inputs from DH and India Today.