Is Really Animal Fat Present In Tirupati Temple Laddoo?

With around 10 million sold every month, gifted with love and shared by enthusiasts and politicians alike, Tirupati laddus are immensely popular across all walks of life. The Union Health Ministry has sought a "detailed report" into the alleged use of animal fats like fish oil, beef tallow, and lard in the preparation of Tirupati laddus.

A seemingly innocuous sweet, the Tirupati laddu, has become the centre of a major controversy in Andhra Pradesh, with allegations of adulteration casting a shadow over its sanctity.

The controversy erupted when Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that substandard ghee, laced with animal fat, had been used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddu during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the temple, confirmed the adulteration citing lab reports. Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao said that the temple’s suppliers have been blacklisted, and legal proceedings were underway.

The controversy has prompted intervention from the central government, with Union health minister JP Nadda requesting a detailed report from the Andhra Pradesh government. Nadda assured that appropriate action would be taken after reviewing the findings.

During an NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday (September 18, 2024), Mr. Naidu claimed that the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus.

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Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference on Thursday (September 19, 2024) in Amaravati claimed that the adulteration has been confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, on the ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

He displayed the purported lab report which apparently confirmed the presence of "beef tallow", "lard" and "fish oil" in the given ghee sample.

The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024, and the lab report was dated July 16. However, there was no official confirmation on the lab report from either the Andhra Pradesh government or the TTD. YSRCP leaders have denied the allegations.

Health Minister J.P. Nadda, also present at the event, said he would address the issue during a press conference later in the day.