Amid allegations surrounding the use of animal fat in Tirupati laddoo preparation, Indian dairy brand Amul has clarified that it has never supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). The clarification came in response to social media posts that falsely claimed Amul had provided ghee for the temple’s offerings.
In its official statement, Amul said, "We wish to inform that Amul Ghee has never been supplied to TTD. Our ghee is made from pure milk fat at state-of-the-art facilities certified by ISO, and we follow stringent quality checks, including those for adulteration, as per FSSAI standards."
This clarification follows a controversy that erupted when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of using animal fat and substandard ingredients in the preparation of the temple’s famous laddoos.
The Central government also responded to the issue, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda requesting a report from the Andhra Pradesh government and Food Minister Pralhad Joshi calling for an investigation.
In response, Jagan Mohan Reddy rejected the allegations, calling them a distraction from the public’s discontent with Naidu’s 100 days in office. He accused Naidu of using the controversy for political gain, stating, "Is it fair to play with the sentiments of crores of devotees across the world?" Reddy further emphasized that all lab tests and evidence presented occurred during the NDA government and announced plans to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud regarding Naidu’s actions.