Andhra CM claims animal fat used in Tirupati laddoos, shows lab report

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accused the previous YSRCP government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the preparation of the famed Tirupati laddoos, a sacred sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.A July 17 report from the Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food, or CALF, lab at the centre-run National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat, released Wednesday, said it found animal fat in ghee used to make the famous Tirupati laddoos when the YSRCP was in power. The report indicated the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard; the last is a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.

The lord venkateswara swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the @ysjagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the tirupati Prasadam. Shame on @ysjagan and the @ysrcparty government that couldn’t respect the religious… pic.twitter.com/UDFC2WsoLP

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 18, 2024

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y S Sharmila demanded a CBI probe to ascertain whether animal fat was really used to make the sweet.Sharmila said Naidu’s allegations hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus who consider Lord Venkateswara as a revered deity.“Immediately constitute a high-level committee or investigate with the CBI whether animal fat was used instead of ghee,” said Sharmila in a press release.
In response, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has categorically denied these allegations. Senior YSRCP leader and former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy called Naidu’s statements “malicious,” and accused the TDP leader of stooping “to any level for political gain.”
Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, calling Naidu’s comments shameful and accusing him of betraying public trust. He insisted that such accusations should be retracted and apologised for. “No one who believes in God can do it,” he said.