In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples of outrage among devotees, the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shyamala Rao, on Friday disclosed the alarming extent of adulteration in the iconic Tirupati laddoos. Five lab tests conducted after allegations of animal fat being used in the laddoos, and contamination of multiple ingredients were confirmed. He said that the laddoos samples were found to be ‘pathetic’ and were highly adulterated with lard (pig fat).
Rao, addressing a press briefing, didn’t mince words when he described the quality of the laddoos as “pathetic” and revealed that the ghee used in their preparation was of “abysmally low” quality. He pointed fingers at the ghee suppliers to the temple body, accusing them of taking advantage of the lack of an in-house adulteration testing facility and the failure to utilize outside facilities.
“Ghee suppliers took advantage of the lack of testing facilities within the temple administration. Officials found the samples to be ‘pathetic’,” the Executive Officer stated, underscoring the gravity of the situation. He further added, “This is not a single instance of contamination. It was found that animal fat was also present. Though the sample appeared to be ghee, the test results indicated it was not”.
The investigation uncovered a disturbing cocktail of contaminants in the laddoos. Apart from lard (pig fat), palm oil and beef tallow were also found to be present in the samples, raising serious concerns about the sanctity of the offerings and the potential health implications for devotees.
Rao acknowledged that the issue had been simmering for a while, stating that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had previously voiced concerns about complaints of animal fat being used in the laddoos. The TTD swung into action after receiving four consistent reports highlighting the extremely poor quality of the laddoos. An expert committee was set up, and their findings corroborated the previous reports.
“We immediately stopped the supplies and also initiated the blacklisting procedure of the supplier company,” Rao declared, adding that legal and penal processes are underway to hold the culprits accountable.
This revelation has stirred a massive controversy, with fingers being pointed at the previous YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy. Chandrababu Naidu has accused the previous regime of not even sparing the Sri Venkateswara temple and using substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddoos. A subsequent lab report has seemingly confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos distributed to the devotees of the shrine.
The Tirupati ladoo scandal has left devotees feeling betrayed and outraged. The laddoo, considered a sacred offering and a symbol of divine blessings, has been tainted by greed and negligence. The TTD’s swift action in blacklisting the supplier and initiating legal proceedings is a step in the right direction, but it will take a lot more to restore the faith of the millions who visit the temple every year.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent quality control measures, especially when it comes to food offerings in religious places. The trust of devotees is sacred, and it must not be compromised at any cost. The TTD has a responsibility to ensure that such incidents never happen again and that the sanctity of the Tirupati laddoos is preserved for generations to come.
