Tirupati Laddu Row: Ghee supplier defends quality, 'fish oil is more expensive'
PTC News Desk: An employee of AR Dairy Food Private Limited, the Tamil Nadu-based company under scrutiny for allegedly supplying adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for Sri Venkateswara Temple prasadam, has dismissed the allegations as “absurd.” This statement came a day after TTD announced legal action against the firm.
Kanan, a quality control officer at AR Dairy, strongly refuted claims that fish oil was used in the ghee production. He emphasised that the allegation is illogical since fish oil costs more than ghee itself. "These allegations, which suggest adulteration with vegetable oil or animal fat, are severely damaging to our business. Moreover, any such adulteration would be immediately detectable by smell,” he stated during an interview with a Tamil news channel, as reported by The Indian Express.
Kanan further explained that AR Dairy has been producing ghee since 1998 and that the milk used in their ghee production undergoes 102 rigorous quality checks. He assured that the company's ghee is approved by TTD. “Our ghee samples are first tested in national laboratories before being dispatched to TTD. Upon arrival, TTD’s food safety officer conducts another round of checks,” he added.
In the wake of the controversy, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar expressed his views on social media, stating that the incident has caused significant distress within the Hindu community. He called for the management of temple affairs to be entrusted to religious leaders and devoted individuals rather than self-serving officials or business interests. “The Tirupati laddu row has inflicted a deep wound and rage in the Hindu psyche,” he remarked.
TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao revealed last week that laboratory tests indicated the presence of animal fat and lard in samples of ghee supplied by AR Dairy. This revelation has prompted Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh to declare that the government will take strict action against those involved in using animal fats in the production of Tirupati laddus.
He stated, "NDDB's report is clear that adulteration occurred. This is not merely an allegation. We will not spare anyone and will pursue this matter beyond just a CBI inquiry."
As the situation unfolds, the TTD and AR Dairy continue to navigate the implications of these serious allegations, with public trust in the temple's prasadam at stake.
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- With inputs from agencies
