Fri Sep 20 02:49:34 UTC 2024: ## Tirupati Laddu Scandal: Lab Tests Reveal Shocking Adulteration During YSRC Tenure
**Tirupati, July 25, 2024:** A bombshell revelation has rocked the Tirupati temple, with lab tests confirming the use of adulterated ghee in the iconic Tirupati laddu during the YSRC government’s tenure.
Telugu Desam Party spokesperson, Anam Venkataramana Reddy, presented lab reports from the National Dairy Development Board’s cattle feed laboratory on Thursday, revealing the shocking composition of the “cow ghee” used in the laddu.
The reports showed the presence of not only vegetable oils like soybean, sunflower, olive, and corn oil, but also **fish oil, beef tallow, palm oil, and even pork fat**.
The presence of β-sitosterol, a substance not found in pure cow ghee, and the inconsistent fatty acid profile, including a negligible amount of butyric acid, further confirmed the adulteration.
Reddy alleged that the YSRC government awarded ghee supply contracts at ridiculously low prices, forcing suppliers to compromise on quality to make profits. The TD leader also criticized the lack of quality control measures at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), questioning why they couldn’t afford a Rs. 75 lakh lab for ghee certification.
Reddy highlighted that the TTD had changed ghee suppliers, removing Karnataka Milk Federation’s Nandini ghee, because they refused to pay bribes. He also pointed out that the YSRC government had ignored repeated complaints about the laddu’s smell, raising suspicions about their complicity in the adulteration.
Following the revelation, the TDP has demanded an immediate investigation into the matter and has called for the YSRC to answer for this “sacrilege.”
The news has sparked outrage and anger among devotees and the public, who consider the Tirupati laddu to be sacred and associated with religious beliefs. The controversy has also raised questions about the TTD’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its offerings and practices.
First Piper 