Tirupati laddu

The laboratory, established in 2009 by the National Dairy Development Board a statutory body of the Indian government, conducted tests that raised questions about the integrity of the prasadam served at the temple.The Central Health Ministry issued a show cause notice to the ghee-supplying company after one of the tested samples failed quality checks, indicating adulteration.[17] Furthermore, TTD established a sensory panel to assess food samples based on aroma, taste, and texture to mitigate future controversies related to prasadam quality.Political leader Pawan Kalyan raised concerns about adherence to worship protocols under the previous administration, referencing incidents he claimed involved the desecration of temples.[19] Meanwhile, Tamil actor Karthi apologized to Pawan Kalyan for his earlier comments regarding the controversy, reflecting the political sensitivity surrounding the issue.[20] Prominent actor Prakash Raj's comments to brush off the laddu controversy attracted criticism from leaders of the ruling NDA government such as Pawan Kalyan.[21] In response to the allegations regarding the adulteration of the Tirupati laddu, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, head of the YSR Congress Party, called upon devotees across Andhra Pradesh to participate in special poojas on September 28, 2024.He urged the public to address what he termed false claims regarding the use of animal fat in the preparation of the laddu prasadam, highlighting the significance of restoring the temple's sanctity.The YSRCP has denied allegations regarding the quality of ghee supplied to the temple, asserting that all protocols were observed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).[22] In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy emphasized that the processes in place at TTD were designed to ensure the quality of ingredients used in the preparation of prasadam.[25] On September 30, 2024, the Supreme Court stated that there was no conclusive evidence to suggest using animal fat in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime.[26] The Court criticized Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for making public statements without solid proof, stating that religious matters should not be politicized.Viswanathan questioned the Chief Minister's decision to publicize unverified claims, noting that the lab test results did not clearly show contamination of the ghee used in the 'Prasadam'.