TTD enhances Srivari Laddu quality with KMF Ghee
Update: 2024-09-04 15:15 GMT
Tirupati: TTD executive officer J. Syamala Rao has announced that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has upgraded the quality of its renowned Srivari Laddu prasadam by introducing high-quality ghee from Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Limited, Bengaluru. Following a puja ceremony as the first truck of KMF ghee departed from Tirupati to Tirumala on Wednesday, .
This decision follows recent concerns about the quality of laddus, which led to the blacklisting of a contractor in July 2024 for supplying substandard ghee. Testing by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) revealed that one of the five suppliers provided adulterated ghee.
In response, The EO established a committee of dairy experts, including Dr. Surendranath, Dr. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, Prof. Swarna Latha, and Dr. Mahadevan, to oversee ghee procurement and quality control. The TTD is also setting up a state-of-the-art laboratory for ghee testing, with staff trained in Mysore.
The new tender conditions require dairies to culture cream with selected starter cultures and heat butter to achieve the desired flavour. KMF’s Nandini ghee met these standards and has been approved for use in the laddus.
Despite heavy rains affecting pilgrim turnout, TTD has ensured the availability of laddu prasadam at its local temples and information centres across various locations, selling over 72,500 laddus in the past three days.