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The Print
5 days ago
- General
- The Print
Year after Tirumala ‘adulterated ghee' row, TTD equips itself with high-tech lab to check suppliers
The newly set up Food Quality Testing Laboratory in Tirumala was inaugurated Tuesday by TTD chairman B.R. Naidu along with executive officer (EO) Syamala Rao. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, an independent body operating under the auspices of the state government, manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, where the famed laddus are offered as a divine blessing to millions of devotees. Hyderabad: A year after 'adulterated ghee' supply at Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, and the nationwide uproar later following Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's claim of 'animal fat in laddu prasadam', the TTD is finally equipped with a modern food and ghee testing lab, with equipment donated by the National Dairy Development Board, Gujarat. 'Till now, there was no facility to test the quality of ghee in Tirumala, and now for the first time, equipment like GC (gas chromatograph) and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatograph) have been installed, which have the ability to instantly analyse the adulteration and quality of ghee,' Rao told reporters. Even as the Tirupati temple attracts millions of pilgrims every year and lakhs of laddus and free meals are served to devotees daily, a lab to test the quality of food items, including the celebrated laddus, and ingredients used, has been a glaring absence for decades. The lack of a sophisticated lab was felt more so last July when certain batches of 'pure cow ghee' supplied by private contractors were detected to be grossly sub-standard based on the sensory perception of TTD experts. The samples suspected to be adulterated were then sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board's Centre for Analysis & Learning in Livestock & Food (NDDB-CALF) in Anand. The test reports suggested the presence of lard, tallow and fish oil in the samples of ghee collected from four tankers sent by Tamil Nadu-based A.R. Dairy in the first half of July. A.R. Dairy, which supplied ghee in June and July, was later blacklisted, even as the agency vehemently denied any wrongdoing and company executives also questioned the lab report. 'Earlier, samples had to be sent to other states to test the quality of items like prasadams and ghee. But now we have a lab with state-of-the-art equipment to conduct such tests directly here in Tirumala,' said chairman Naidu. I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who was Andhra Pradesh chief secretary during Naidu's previous term as CM, welcomed the lab set up. 'Good that at least now, TTD got the lab established. It will help curb adulteration of ingredients supplied while serving as a deterrent for unscrupulous suppliers,' Rao, who also served as TTD EO earlier, told ThePrint. The matter of ghee adulteration is under probe by a Central Bureau of Investigation-director supervised special investigation team, according to the Supreme Court orders last October. Also Read: Naidu's 'animal fat' in Tirupati laddu claim sets off political row, YSRCP denies allegation What happened last year In September last year, months after taking over as CM, Naidu had claimed that the laddus offered to Lord Venkateswara were made with inferior ingredients during the previous YSRCP regime and that 'most painfully animal fat was used in place of pure ghee'. The YSRCP had vehemently denied the claim. Naidu said the sentiments of millions of devotees were hurt on discovering the truth of how the laddus were being prepared before his government came to power in June. However, according to Syamala Rao, who took over as EO of the temple trust days after the Naidu-led alliance formed a government in the state on 12 June, the 'adulterated ghee' said to be contaminated with fish oil, lard and beef tallow, besides other elements like vegetable oil, was supplied in July. Of the 10 tankers supplied by A.R. Dairy, cow ghee in four tankers was perceived to be of inferior quality by the TTD experts. Samples from these four tankers—two of which had arrived on 6 July and the others on 12 July—were collected and sent to NDDB-CALF labs in Anand for adulteration tests. Following the CM's claims in September, ThePrint, quoting Syamala, had reported that the suspected ghee was never used to make the venerated laddu at the temple potu (sacred kitchen). The four tankers kept aside were sent back to A.R. Dairy after the NDDB CALF report reflected animal and vegetable fat contamination. Addressing a press conference in Tirumala in September, Syamala said the samples were sent to external labs (NDDB-CALF) for testing for the 'first time in the history of TTD'. A TTD report submitted to CM Naidu following the row had expressed concern that some suppliers took advantage of 'poor-quality control systems i.e., lack of testing equipment for adulteration and not sending samples for external lab testing' and were quoting very low unviable rates between Rs 320 and Rs 411 per kg for ghee in their tender. To check this gap, an expert group recommended the formation of a sensory panel with a scientific lab to test ghee purity on hedonic scale, where at least seven should be scored on a nine-point scale. It was at that time that the NDDB offered to donate ghee adulteration testing equipment costing Rs 75 lakh. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: TTD backs Naidu's 'animal fat' in Tirupati laddus claim. 'Ghee tested after CM said to ensure quality'
Hans India
6 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Food quality testing lab inaugurated at Tirumala
Tirumala: The newly-established food quality testing laboratory at Tirumala was inaugurated on Tuesday by TTD Chairman B R Naidu along with EO J Syamala Rao. Speaking on the occasion, the TTD Chairman said that earlier, samples had to be sent to other States to test the quality of items like prasadams and ghee. But now a lab has been set up at Tirumala itself with state-of-the-art equipment to conduct tests directly. TTD EO Syamala Rao said that till now there was no facility to test the quality of ghee at Tirumala, and now for the first time, equipment like GC (Gas Chromatograph) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatograph) have been installed, which have the ability to instantly analyse the adulteration and quality percentage of ghee. He said that the equipment worth Rs 75 lakh was donated by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of Gujarat. Adding further he said that the lab staff and potu workers have undergone special training at CFTRI in Mysore and henceforth arrangements have been made to check the quality of the prasadams in this lab and provide the results immediately. TTD Board members Santha Ram, Sadasiva Rao, Naresh, Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary and CE Satya Narayana, Deputy EOs Bhaskar, Somannarayana and other officials participated in the programme.
NDTV
7 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Months After Laddoo Row, Tirumala Gets In-House Lab To Test Food Items, Ghee
Hyderabad: For the first time, food samples, including ingredients used for making laddoo prasadam offered to Lord Venkateswara and food items offered to devotees, can get tested for quality at Tirumala itself. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) today inaugurated a state-of-the-art Food Quality Testing Laboratory. This crucial facility, a long-awaited addition, was officially opened on Tuesday by TTD Chairman BR Naidu and Executive Officer (EO) J Syamala Rao. The establishment of this in-house laboratory marks a pivotal moment for the TTD. Historically, the temple administration faced considerable challenges in promptly and efficiently assessing the quality of its food products. As Chairman Naidu highlighted during the inauguration, "earlier, samples had to be sent to other states to test the quality of items like prasadams and ghee." This process often led to delays and complexities, particularly when quick analysis was required to address quality concerns or dispel controversies. A notable instance illustrating this challenge was the recent "laddoo controversy," where allegations regarding the purity of ghee used in the iconic Tirupati laddoo prasadam emerged. During that period, samples of ghee reportedly had to be dispatched to external laboratories, even in other states, for testing and verification. This reliance on external facilities underscored the urgent need for an in-house solution to ensure immediate and transparent quality control. The absence of such a facility within Tirumala meant that critical decisions regarding food safety and quality were often contingent on external lab reports, which could take time to procure and analyse. Now, with the new laboratory, the TTD is empowered to conduct direct and immediate tests. TTD EO Syamala Rao emphasised the groundbreaking capabilities of the new facility, particularly for ghee analysis. "Till now, there is no facility to test the quality of ghee in Tirumala, and now for the first time, equipment like GC (Gas Chromatograph) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatograph) have been installed, which can instantly analyse the adulteration and quality percentage of ghee," he stated. These advanced instruments are vital for detecting contaminants and ensuring the purity of ingredients. The Executive Officer also gratefully acknowledged the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of Gujarat for their generous donation of equipment worth Rs 75 lakh, making this facility possible. Furthermore, he informed that the laboratory staff and even the 'potu' workers (those involved in preparing the prasadams) have undergone specialised training at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore, ensuring expertise in operating the equipment and interpreting results. This comprehensive approach ensures that quality checks can be performed meticulously and results provided without delay.
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Business Standard
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Assam to reach 10 lakh litre milk processing capacity in 3 years: CM Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday performed bhumi pujan for the expansion of Purabi Dairy, which will extend the milk processing capacity of the plant to 3 lakh litres per day. The Assam CM announced that the NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) and the state government are jointly working to set up new processing units in Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and other locations. He noted that the step will increase the milk processing capacity of Assam to 10 lakh litres in the next three years. "In Assam, we decided three years ago that we would produce 10 lakh litres of milk for daily processing... Today we are here for the Bhumi Pujan, under which NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) will increase the milk processing capacity of this plant to 3 lakh litres. Additionally, the Assam Government and NDDB are jointly working to establish more processing units in Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and other locations... I am fully confident that in the next 3-4 years, Assam will have a daily milk processing capacity of 10 lakh litres", Sarma told reporters. Earlier this year during the Advantage Assam Summit state's dairy and organic farming sectors received a major boost with the signing of two crucial Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). In a move set to double the milk processing capacity at Purabi Dairy's Panjabari plant in Guwahati, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL) formalised an agreement on February 26. The expansion project, estimated at Rs 100 crore, will increase the plant's capacity from 1.5 lakh litres per day (LLPD) to 3 LLPD, ensuring a steady supply of quality dairy products to meet growing consumer demand. The expansion will also see an increase in fermented milk product production from 20 metric tons per day (MTPD) to 50 MTPD and the establishment of a new ice cream plant with a capacity of 20 TLPD. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
OMFED-NDDB pact to empower 15 lakh dairy farmers across Odisha: CM Mohan Charan Majhi
CUTTACK: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced a series of initiatives aimed at propelling the state's dairy sector into a new era of growth. Addressing a function organised at the OMFED dairy plant in Arilo under Cuttack's Barang block, the chief minister informed that the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation (OMFED) have entered into an agreement to enhance milk production and empower over 15 lakh dairy farmers across the state. 'As per the pact, NDDB will provide around 4,000 cows of high-yielding Gir, Sahiwal and other cross-bred varieties to dairy farmers of Odisha. Along with this, a cow dung gas plant will also be set up in the state with the help of NDDB in the coming days to promote sustainability. The plant will generate fuel from cow dung providing both cooking gas and organic fertiliser, thus reinforcing Odisha's vision of a thriving Gaumata Economy,' Majhi said. 'OMFED is the backbone of Odisha's White Revolution and has become a driving force in increasing milk production while making the state's dairy farmers self-reliant. Through strategic partnerships and upgradation of infrastructure, the government aims to substantially increase milk production, from the current 72 lakh litres to 165 litres by 2036 and 274 lakh litres by 2047,' the CM informed.
