In the wake of the ongoing controversy regarding the presence of 'animal fat' in ghee used for the preparation of laddus in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to AR Dairy. The statutory body sought a reply from the firm as to why action should not be taken against it.
AR Dairy has been asked to file its reply by the end of the day on Monday. Ghee manufactured by the firm reportedly did not meet the quality standards.
"As per the information received in this Office from The Director Institute of Preventive Medicine, Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), your firm M/s. A R Diary Food Private Ltd bearing FSSAI Central License No. 10014042001610 at 10/5 C, Madurai Road, Begampur Post, Dindigul., Dindigul block, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu-624002 was one of the suppliers of Ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) since the last 4 years. Further as per the information, the Ghee procurement committee of TTD has sent all the samples supplied to TTD for testing to NDDB CALF Lab at Anand, Gujarat," the FSSAI said in its notice.
"After analysis, the sample from your firm M/s. A R Diary Food Private Ltd (FSSAI Central License number 10014042001610) has failed to meet the parameters and your firm has been blacklisted by EO, TTD. By virtue of the above non-conformance of the product "Ghee" manufactured by your firm which is not meeting the standards, you have contravened the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under," it added.
Earlier in the day, the TTD held a purification ritual, called the 'Shanti Homam'. The ritual was performed in the kitchens where the laddu are prepared for offering.
"The state government came up with a proposal that what to do to purify the places of the temple. So, we went to the management with the proposal to perform a Shanti Homam. After approval, we decided last evening to perform it today after 6 am," one of the head priests of the temple, Krishna Seshachala Deekshitulu said.
"After 6 am, we all went to sanctum sanctorum to take the blessings of and permission from Lord Venkateswara…Now everything has been purified, I request all devotees that they need not worry anymore. Come have the darshan of Lord Balaji and take the prasadam back home," he added.
The decision to conduct Shanti Homam was taken amid claims of adulterated ghee being used for making the laddu at Sri Venkateswara Temple. The Tirupati Laddu, also called the ‘Srivari Laddu’, has been the main offering at the temple for more than 300 years.