A private dairy in Dindigul, which had supplied ghee for making Tirupati laddu, refuted claims that the ghee used was impure or substandard. The dairy stated that they had supplied ghee to the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) as recently as June and July without any prior complaints. Speaking to the media, members of A.R. Dairy’s Quality Control team confirmed that while there were no issues raised by the Devasthanam, they had since halted supply. ‘In June and July, we dispatched four truckloads of ghee,’ they said, adding that they followed standard operating procedures, which included testing samples at government-recognised laboratories before dispatch.

When asked, the team confirmed they are no longer supplying to the Devasthanam but emphasised their 25-year history in the business, noting that their products are regularly tested at multiple levels in government-approved labs. The team also mentioned that the FSSAI officials periodically tested samples, and that their contribution to TTD’s ghee supply was only 0.1%.

On Friday, engineers from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) visited the dairy’s facility to collect water discharge samples. The officials confirmed that ghee samples would also be sent to a government-approved lab, and further actions would be based on the test results..

Quality assurance in food supply chains, especially for religious offerings like Tirupati laddu is crucial. Dairy manufacturers must maintain stringent compliance to ensure public trust and meet regulatory standards.

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Amid escalating controversy regarding Tirupati Laddu, Amul has filed an FIR against several social media users for spreading misinformation about the brand. The FIR, submitted on Saturday, accuses users on platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) of falsely associating Amul with supplying adulterated ghee used in the temple’s renowned Laddus.

Amul, based in Gujarat, has dismissed these allegations, asserting that it has never sold ghee to the Tirupati temple. The company acted swiftly after social media posts targeted it for allegedly selling substandard ghee claimed to be used in making prasadam Laddu. Amul stated that these claims are baseless and appear aimed at damaging the brand’s reputation.

What is Tirupati Laddu?

Tirupati laddu is the sacred prasadam offered to devotees at the Sri Venkateswara temple, made from ghee, rice flour, besan, cashews, almonds, and milk.

How did it start?

The situation escalated after former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ordered a laboratory test of the ghee used in preparing Tirupati Laddu, which revealed the presence of foreign fats like lard, tallow, fish oil, and various seed oils.

Tirumala Temple Trust Confirms Animal Fat in Ghee

The controversy intensified when the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple trust, supported Naidu’s claims. A lab report based on ghee samples from the trust has circulated among Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members. However, the Andhra Pradesh government has yet to publicly address the findings.

According to reports, the temple board plans to blacklist a contractor supplying adulterated ghee, emphasising that it will not tolerate violations of standards, particularly concerning prasadam, which is vital to religious practices.

Union Health Ministry steps in 

The Union Health Ministry has intervened, requesting a full report from Naidu regarding the allegations of adulterated ghee in the Tirupati Laddu. As the controversy gains national attention, many are awaiting an official statement from the Andhra Pradesh government regarding the validity of the lab report and its next steps.

The Amul FIR and the Tirupati Laddu controversy highlight the importance of brand reputation management, especially amid misinformation on social media platforms. Legal and regulatory steps, including lab tests and government interventions, are crucial in cases involving religious practices and public health.

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