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Lab reports reveal the presence of foreign fats like lard and tallow in ghee supplied to Tirumala for the famous Tirupati Laddu during YSRC rule, sparking controversy.”
The controversy surrounding the famous Tirupati Laddu prasadam has escalated after laboratory analysis revealed the presence of foreign fats in the ghee supplied to the Tirumala temple trust. The Tirupati Laddu ghee controversy emerged after the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh made the results public, showing traces of lard (pig fat), tallow (beef fat), and even fish oil in the ghee used for preparing the prasadam during the tenure of the YSRC government.
Analysis Confirms Presence of Foreign Fats
The laboratory tests, conducted on July 23 by the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), confirmed the presence of animal fats in the ghee. Apart from animal fats like lard and tallow, the report also detected vegetable fats from sources such as coconut, linseed, rapeseed, and cottonseed. These findings have added fuel to the Tirupati Laddu ghee controversy, sparking outrage among devotees and political debates.
Political Fallout and YSRC’s Denial
The controversy deepened when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu raised the issue with NDA allies, accusing the YSRC government of allowing impure ghee to be used in making the laddus. YSRC leaders reacted strongly, dismissing the allegations as a political stunt by Naidu. However, the Tirupati Laddu ghee controversy continues to generate significant attention as the laboratory analysis suggests the possibility of contamination.
Report’s Caveat and Possible Errors
While the report highlighted the presence of foreign fats, it also included a cautionary note regarding potential false-positive results. According to the NDDB, certain conditions like overfeeding cows with oil-rich feeds or underfeeding can result in erroneous findings. Moreover, technological treatments like cholesterol removal from milk could also lead to misleading results. Despite these caveats, the Tirupati Laddu ghee controversy remains a hot topic, with political and religious implications.
