TTD confirms adulteration in ghee
Hyderabad, Sept 20 (INN): The controversy surrounding the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of the sacred Tirumala laddu has sparked nationwide outrage.
Devotees have expressed concerns over reports suggesting that animal fat was used instead of pure cow ghee in the making of the famous laddus. In response, AR Dairy, the supplier from Tamil Nadu, has denied any wrongdoing.
The management of AR Dairy clarified that they supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) during June and July but are not currently supplying ghee. They insisted that their ghee has always been of high quality, stating that they have been in the dairy business for 25 years without any such allegations. After recent accusations, the dairy conducted tests on the ghee supplied to TTD, and the results showed no adulteration. The company expressed frustration over the false accusations and mentioned that they had sent the test reports to TTD but had not received any response.
However, TTD Executive Officer (EO) Dharma Reddy confirmed that adulteration in the ghee used for laddu preparation was indeed found. He admitted that he personally noticed quality issues with the ghee, leading to samples being sent to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) lab on July 6. The lab's report revealed significant adulteration, stating that the ghee's quality score was only 20 out of 100, and it contained traces of animal fat.
The EO mentioned that the adulterated ghee was supplied by AR Foods from Tamil Nadu and that immediate action was being taken against the company. A committee has been formed to decide on further steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
The TTD assured devotees that measures would be taken to maintain the quality of the sacred prasadam going forward.
News Posted: 22 September, 2024
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