New Delhi: A quality control officer at AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd, presently at the centre of the ongoing controversy over the usage of animal fat in preparation of ‘prasadam’ at Tirupati temple complex, has termed the allegations “absurd”.
A day after Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) initiated legal action against the firm, the quality control officer, Kanan, refuted the allegations that fish oil was used to prepare the ghee as absurd, arguing that it is more expensive than ghee. The presence of fish oil can be immediately detected by smell, he further added.
TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao stated last week that laboratory tests had detected presence of animal fat and lard in selected samples of ghee supplied by the company.
“These allegations, ranging from vegetable oil to animal fat adulteration, are severely damaging to our business. Moreover, the claim that fish oil was added is absurd; fish oil is more expensive than ghee. Any adulteration of this kind would immediately be detectable by smell alone,” The Indian Express quoted Kanan as speaking to a Tamil channel.
Kanan said the milk used for making ghee at his firm undergoes over 100 quality checks. It has been producing ghee for nearly 25 years. “Our ghee samples are first tested in national laboratories before being dispatched to TTD. Upon arrival, TTD’s food safety officer checks the samples again,” he added.
Meanwhile, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in a post on X that the adulteration controversy has hurt the Hindu psyche.
“The Tirupati laddu row has inflicted a deep wound and rage in the Hindu psyche. It is high time that temple management is overseen by, and handed over to, religious leaders and devotees, rather than self-serving officials, ruthless business people and politicians,” he posted on X.