Amid increasing outrage around the use of animal fat in Tirupati’s laddus, Union Health Minister JP Nadda sought the available report from Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu for examination. He further added that actions will be taken according to the food safety standards.
He said, ‘I spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu after getting information about this and took details from him. 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. As of now I have asked for the report an we will examine it’. Earlier, Union Food Minister Prahladh Joshi and Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh demanded an investigation into the matter.
The ruling Telugu Desam Party claimed that the adulteration has been confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference displayed the lab report which confirmed the presence of beef tallow in the given ghee sample.
The lab report also claimed the presence of lard (relating to pig fat) and fish oil in the samples. The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024 and the lab report was dated July 16. Andhra Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu had on Wednesday alleged the previous YSRCP government had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a sweet.
While the allegation had been denied by the opposition YSR Congress Party, a former priest of the temple on Friday that animal fat has been used in the prasad for years and informing the board led to no action. He said, ‘I noticed this few years ago and I put it before the concerned authorities and the chairman of the trust board. But they did not care. It’s a lonely battle for me but now, the new government has taken power and has promised to clear all the mess’.
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