Andhra Pradesh, India

In a shocking revelation, the latest test reports have confirmed that beef tallow, fish oil, and palm oil were used to make laddoos, distributed as religious food offerings (prasad) at the popular Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. 

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The 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), said an India Today report.

Photographs of the test lab report were being shared on social media, but WION could not verify them.

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Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, on Wednesday (Sep 18), alleged that during the previous government led by the YSR Congress, substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in making the famous Tirupati (laddoo), a consecrated sweet. 

“Even Tirumala laddoo was made with substandard ingredients…they used animal fat instead of ghee,” Naidu claimed while addressing a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislature party meeting.

Andhra Pradesh CM asserted that pure ghee was now being used and everything had been sanitised at the temple, leading to improved quality.

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However, the former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRC party has denied the charges, terming the allegation as "malicious" and saying that the TDP supremo would “stoop to any level for political gain”.

Also read: Tirupati Temple trust to distribute 100,000 laddoos for Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration

Other ministers criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration.

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh targeted Reddy's administration 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.

He further alleged that it could not respect the religious sentiments of thousands of devotees. 

Watch | India: Devotees wearing 25 kg of gold visit Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati

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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. 

“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.

(With inputs from agencies)