Amid growing concerns over the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of prasada at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati, dairy giant Amul has issued a clarification. The company responded on Friday, refuting claims that it had supplied ghee to the temple.
Amul took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the rumors circulating on social media. In a public statement, the company clarified, “This is in reference to some social media posts mentioning that Amul Ghee was being supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). We wish to inform that we have never supplied Amul Ghee to TTD.”
The statement further emphasized that Amul Ghee is produced from high-quality pure milk fat. “Amul Ghee is made from milk at our state-of-the-art production facilities, which are ISO certified. The milk received at our dairies passes through stringent quality checks, including adulteration detection as specified by FSSAI,” the statement added.
Allegations of Animal Fat in Tirupati Laddu
The clarification came after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu raised concerns over the quality of ingredients used in making Tirupati laddus, the famous prasada offered at the Sri Venkateswara Temple. Naidu accused the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the laddus’ preparation.
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This allegation sparked widespread outrage among devotees, leading to demands for an investigation.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Response
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy responded to the accusations, condemning the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for politicizing religious issues. In a statement, Reddy defended the quality control processes in place, emphasizing that suppliers must meet strict criteria.
“The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria have not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality certificate. The TTD collects samples of the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. The TDP is politicizing religious matters,” Reddy stated. He also mentioned that products have been rejected multiple times under his regime for failing to meet quality standards.
Centre’s Intervention
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has also weighed in on the controversy. On Friday, Nadda confirmed that he had spoken to Chief Minister Naidu and requested a full report on the matter.
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“I have asked him to share the available report so that I can examine it. I will also speak to the state regulators and investigate this. Suitable action will be taken as per the food safety standards,” Nadda said during a press briefing on the Modi government’s 100-day achievements.
TDP’s Claims on Lab Reports
TDP MP Sribharat Mathukumilli added further fuel to the controversy by revealing lab reports. According to Mathukumilli, the ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus contained fats that did not meet the required S value, a measure of quality in milk fat. “It is not ghee. It is a mix of vegetable oils and, shockingly, beef fat and pig fat,” Mathukumilli stated. He expressed deep concern, saying, “This has shaken devotees and all followers of Hinduism across the country.”
The allegations have also drawn parallels with another case at Simhachalam Temple, further intensifying the public’s concerns.
