Centre seeks report over alleged adulteration in Tirupati laddu

The Centre has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh Government over the allegation of adulteration in Tirupati laddu . Replying to queries during a press conference in New Delhi today, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said, he has spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the issue and has sought a report in this regard. He said that the Government would examine the matter and take suitable action. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a high level meeting with state ministers and officials on issue, today in Amaravati.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said, the issue of the presence of alleged animal fat in Tirupati temple’s laddus, which was raised by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, is a serious matter. Talking to the media on the sidelines of an event, Mr Joshi said, there should be a detailed inquiry in the matter and the guilty should be punished. Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan said that anyone involved in adulteration of food will not be spared.

The Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food, a laboratory of the National Dairy Development Board has confirmed the presence of animal fat in the ghee used in the making of laddus.

Meanwhile, the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, J. Syamala Rao, today said that in response to complaints, the temple authority quickly sent ghee samples to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for testing. The results confirmed that the ghee was adulterated with vegetable oil and animal fat. He said that following the results, the temple authority immediately terminated its contract with the supplier and blacklisted the vendor.