Ghee Used in TTD Laddu had Beef Tallow: Report

Tirupati: The controversial “cow ghee” used in the making of the Tirupati laddu during the YSRC tenure contained not just soybean oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, and corn oil, but also fish oil, beef tallow, palm oil, and even pork fat.

Telugu Desam spokesperson Anam Venkataramana Reddy released copies of lab test reports on Thursday to back Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that adulterated ghee was used for laddu preparation at Tirumala.

The tests were carried out at the National Dairy Development Board’s cattle feed laboratory.

He held a media meet in Nellore to explain that the YSRC’s corruption has been exposed by test results from the National Dairy Development Board’s cattle feed laboratory.

“The ghee used during the YSRC rule contained animal fats, confirming our worst fears about the desecration of our sacred laddus,” he said.

The TD spokesperson said, “After the change of government, the TTD sent ghee samples for tests on July 12, 2024, and received these shocking results on July 23. The reports show the so-called “cow ghee” contained not just vegetable oils like soybean oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and corn oil but also fish oil, beef tallow, palm oil and even pork fat.”

“The lab found the presence of β-sitosterol, a substance that shouldn’t be present in pure cow ghee. It detected levels of 167.895 mg/kg and 156.917 mg/kg in two different samples. This is clear evidence of adulteration with vegetable oils,” he explained.

“The fatty acid profile was inconsistent with pure ghee standards. “Butyric acid, a key component of cow ghee, was barely detectable. Other fatty acids like lauric acid and linoleic acid were way above the permissible limits for pure cow ghee.”

Ramana Reddy alleged that the YSRC government’s corruption extended beyond adulteration to the procurement process. “They awarded ghee supply contracts at ridiculously low prices. Quality ghee costs Rs.700 to 1,000 per kg, but they called for tenders at just Rs.320 per kg,” he said.

The TD leader claimed that the previous TTD Trust Board, under the YSRC government, had changed quality ghee suppliers by removing Karnataka Milk Federation’s Nandini ghee, because those suppliers wouldn’t pay bribes. Criticising the lack of quality control measures, Ramana Reddy asked, “Is the TTD so poor that they can’t set up a Rs.75 lakh lab for ghee certification?”

Ramana Reddy claimed that despite repeated complaints about the laddu’s smell ever since the YSRC took power, the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government took no action.

The YSRC had asked for proof, and all the necessary evidence had been gathered and produced before the public. “An investigation is imminent and unavoidable, and the YSRC must answer why it did the sacrilege.”