Laddu row: Ghee suppliers took advantage of lack of in-house testing facilities: TTD

Tirupati: Amidst a raging controversy over the quality of ghee and alleged presence of animal fat in the laddus distributed to the devotees of Lord Venkateswara shrine here, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday said ghee suppliers to the temple body took advantage of the lack of in-house adulteration testing facility and also not making use of outside facilities.

Lab tests had revealed the presence of animal fat and lard in chosen samples, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said.

Addressing a press conference over the quality of ghee being used to make Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweets), especially in the wake of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claim that animal fat was used to make them, the executive officer noted that ghee quality has fallen drastically.

The EO said that there were five suppliers of Ghee to TTD and the rates were between Rs 320 to Rs 411. The suppliers--Premier Agri Foods, Kriparam Diary, Vaishnavi, Sri Parag Milk and AR Dairy. Prima facie these rates are not viable rates for supplying Pure Ghee.

All have been warned by the new Administration to ensure good quality Ghee otherwise samples will be sent to outside labs for testing for adulteration and will be blacklisted if found positive.

Even after warning, four Ghee tankers sent by AR Foods were prima facie found to be of substandard quality. The S-value analysis carried out on the sample sent to the reputed NDDB CALF Anand, fell outside the standard limits, suggesting the presence of foreign fats such as soya bean, sunflower, palm kernel fat or even lard and beef tallow.

The acceptable S-value range for pure milk fat is between 98.05 and 104.32, but the tested sample showed values ranging from 23.22 and 116, reflecting significant deviations. These samples also indicated presence of Vegetable Oil contamination.

"Now the reason for the lack of quality is not having an in-house lab, sending the samples to outside labs for testing and unviable rates," he said.

The EO highlighted that the suppliers took advantage of these deficiencies. "The NDDB has come forward to donate Ghee adulteration testing equipment which will cost Rs.75 lakh equipment which is likely to come up by December or January next as a permanent solution", he said.

The TTD administers the popular hill shrine that attracts lakhs of devotees throughout the year, he added.

CM Naidu had earlier expressed concern over the quality of ghee as well as Laddu and highlighted complaints of the presence of animal fat in the sweet, Rao told reporters here.

Subsequently, suppliers were warned of blacklisting if they provided poor quality ghee. Later, samples of ghee were sent for analysis after four truckloads of ghee were not found to be of good quality. A lab value indicated the sample was adulterated with Lard (pig fat) also, Rao said.

"All the four reports off samples gave similar results. So we immediately stopped the supplies. And the blacklisting of the contractor was initiated and the procedure to impose penalties would also be initiated. Now, the legal process will start," he added.

TTD temporarily stalls cow based products used for making Srivari Prasadams

The EO also stated that complaints are pouring in from the devotees over the taste and quality of Anna Prasadams. Therefore TTD has formed a committee of experts and found that there are deficiencies in quality. Supplies were temporarily suspended After a thorough examination with experts a decision will be taken whether to restore the same or not.