Controversy at Tirupati Temple: Beef, Pig Fat, and Fish Oil Found in Prasadam; 350,000 Laddus Offered Daily in Gujarat Testing

The controversy surrounding the purity and sanctity of the laddu prasadam at Tirupati Temple is escalating. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Andhra Pradesh has once again claimed that apart from fatty ghee, traces of beef, pig fat, and fish oil have been confirmed in the prasadam.

During a press conference on Thursday, September 19, spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy released a lab report. He informed that the sample was sent on July 9, 2024, to Gujarat’s Livestock Laboratory, NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) CALF Limited (Center for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food). The lab report was received on July 16.

Since then, the report has been in the public domain, but it has not been officially confirmed. The report does not mention the name of the issuing institution or the location where the sample was tested.

No Official Statement from Temple Administration Amid Laddu Controversy

On the other hand, there has been no official statement from the temple administration. The ancient kitchen of Tirupati Temple produces 350,000 laddus every day.

CM Naidu Accuses Previous Government of Violating Purity of Tirupati Prasadam

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, of mixing animal fat into the Tirupati prasadam on Wednesday, September 18. He stated that the Jagan Mohan government has compromised the sanctity of the prasadam.

Chandrababu remarked that over the last five years, YSRCP leaders have tarnished the purity of Tirumala. He claimed that animal fat was being used instead of ghee in the holy laddu. However, he assured that they now use pure ghee in the prasadam. “We are working hard to protect the sanctity of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD),” he said.

Naidu also mentioned that the company supplying ghee is being blacklisted. The investigation into this matter has been assigned to the vigilance department. The company had received a supply tender just a year ago. Additionally, Congress leader and Jagan Mohan’s sister, Sharmila, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue.

Jagan Government Allocated Ghee Supply to Five Companies in July 2023

For the last 50 years, the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) Trust has been supplying ghee at subsidized rates. The temple uses 1,400 tons of ghee every six months. In July 2023, after KMF refused to supply ghee at a lower price, the Jagan government assigned the supply contract to five other companies.

On July 17 of this year, the National Dairy Development Board’s food lab, CALF, reported that animal fat and ghee made from fish oil were being used in the Tirumala laddu. During the investigation, it was found that one firm’s ghee was contaminated.

Following this, in July, the EO of the Tirumala Trust, J. Shyamala Rao, convened a meeting and sent laddu samples to the lab for testing. Now, Naidu has revealed the findings of the report, indicating that the ghee contained traces of beef, fish oil, and pig fat.

300-Year-Old Kitchen Exclusively Serves 350,000 Laddus Made by Brahmins

Tirupati Temple is one of the most popular and affluent religious sites in the world, attracting around 70,000 devotees daily for darshan of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy. The temple is managed by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD).

In the 300-year-old kitchen known as ‘Potu’ within the temple premises, 350,000 laddus are prepared daily using pure local ghee. This main prasadam is crafted by approximately 200 Brahmins. The laddus are made with high-quality gram flour, boondi, sugar, cashews, and pure ghee. During the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, the trust sent about one lakh laddus to Ayodhya.

Ghee Mixed with Fat to Reduce Costs

On August 29, the Andhra Pradesh government once again assigned the ghee supply contract to KMF, which supplies desi ghee under the Nandini brand. Meanwhile, TTD has formed a special four-member committee to monitor the quality of the ghee.

Officials from NABL informed Bhaskar that animal fat is never used in pure ghee. However, it is sometimes utilized to reduce production costs.

Last year, when KMF halted supplies, they claimed that if any company won a bid for the trust at a lower price, it would definitely compromise the quality of the laddus, and the impact would be evident in the prasadam.