Tirupati Laddu dispute: FSSAI issues show-cause notice to ghee supplier

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam

2 minutes of reading Last update: 23 Sep 2024 | 23:00 IST

Following allegations of adulteration of Tirupati Laddu wine, the FSSAI has issued an explanation order to a Tamil Nadu-based company for supplying inappropriate ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, official sources said on Monday.

In the notice, the food regulator asked AR Diary Food Private Ltd why its central licence should not be suspended for violating the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

According to the notification, the FSSAI said it has received information from the Director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh) that AR Diary Food Private Ltd, Dindigul, was one of the suppliers of ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for the last four years.

Further, as per the information, the TTD ghee supply committee has sent all the samples submitted to TTD for testing to NDDB CALF laboratory at Anand, Gujarat.

“After analysis, the sample from your company M/s. AR Diary Food Private Ltd (FSSAI Central license number 10014042001610) does not meet the parameters and your company has been blacklisted by EO, TTD,” the notice reads.

“In view of the above non-conformity of the product ‘Ghee’ manufactured by your company which does not meet the standards, you have violated the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the rules and regulations made thereunder.

“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to show cause as to why your central licence should not be suspended for violating the aforesaid provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011,” the notice reads.

The regulator has asked the company to submit a response by September 23, failing which appropriate action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and its implementing regulations.

The matter came to light when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on September 18 accused the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of using unsuitable ingredients and animal fat while making laddus in Tirupati.

Naidu then announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to investigate the reports.

As controversies intensify across the country, various quarters are demanding steps to protect the sanctity of Hindu temples and their ‘prasadam’.

(Only the headline and image of the report may have been edited by the Business Standard team; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)

First published: Sep 23, 2024 | 23:00 IST