Laboratory report fuels debate over animal fat allegations

The report stated that the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow and lard, the latter being a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack against the YSR Congress and his predecessor YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over a laboratory report on animal fats in ghee used to make laddoos offered as prasadam in the temple town of Tirupati.

Naidu alleged that during the previous YSRCP government, substandard ingredients and animal fat were used to make the famous Tirupati Laddu, a consecrated sweet. However, the party (YSRCP) has refuted this claim.

A report by the Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) laboratory of the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat revealed the presence of animal fat in the ghee used to make the famous Tirupati laddoos during the YSRCP’s come to power.

The report stated that the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow and lard, the latter being a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.