Tirupati laddoos contain beef fat, fish oil, confirms lab report
The laddoos offered to devotees as prasad at Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh contain animal fats and fish oil, a lab report has confirmed.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had accused the previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government of using animal fat and substandard ingredients in making the Tirupati laddoo.
Now, a report by NDDB CALF, a private laboratory focused on testing animal feed and milk and milk products, has revealed that the samples of the ghee used in making Tirupati laddoos contained foreign fat, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow and lard (obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig).
After the allegations of Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also targeted the Jagan Mohan Reddy government over the issue.
"The Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam," he said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, YSRCP termed Naidu's allegation as "malicious" and said that the TDP supremo would "stoop to any level for political gain".
YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subba Reddy alleged that Naidu had severely damaged the sanctity of the holy Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus with his comments.
"His comments about the Tirumala prasadam are extremely malicious. No person would speak such words or make such accusations,” said Subba Reddy in a post on X.
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.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has termed it a "serious issue" and demanded punishment for those who used animal fat in Tirupati laddoos.
"This is a very serious issue, raised by none other than Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. Punish those who used animal fat in Tirupati laddu prasadam," VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said in a statement.
BJP MLA T Raja Singh said, "It has come to light that beef fat and fish oil are being used in the sacred Tirupati Laddu prasadam under the governance of YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. This is a direct assault on our rich cultural and religious heritage, which cannot and should not be tolerated."
