The sanctity of the Tirupati laddu, a renowned consecrated sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, has been challenged by a recent controversy. A lab report, allegedly from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, has claimed the presence of “beef tallow, fish oil” and other substandard ingredients, including “lard” (pig fat), in samples of the laddus.
This revelation has ignited a firestorm on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with users expressing their shock and anger. One user, sharing the lab report, declared, “If you are reading this & still breathing normally, Shame on you.” The post, garnering over one lakh views and 4,000 shares, condemned the alleged adulteration as a “SLAP” on the country’s citizens, ancestors, and Hindu community.
Many users blamed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for the alleged adulteration, while others questioned the authenticity of the report, citing circulating pictures as the source of the allegations.
Adding to the controversy, a user highlighted a past news report about the discontinuation of Nandini ghee, the standard ghee used in the laddus, raising further concerns about the ingredients.
Despite the uproar, neither the Andhra Pradesh government nor the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, has commented on the allegations. The lab report, dated July 16, 2024, was based on samples received on July 9.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy declared the issue “an affront to Hindu religion” and urged for “justice”. The controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddus has shaken the faith of many devotees and raised serious questions about the integrity of the temple’s offerings. As the debate continues, the public awaits a response from the authorities and further investigation into the alleged adulteration.
