Tirupati Laddu case: Consumer Affairs Ministry to wait for FSSAI report before taking further action

Amid the ongoing Tirupati laddu controversy, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Monday said her ministry would consider additional measures to monitor the quality of ghee in the market only after receiving the report from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

“We are waiting for his report,” Khare said at a press conference on the 100 days of achievements of the Modi 3.0 government. She stressed that food safety falls under the purview of the FSSAI, adding, “We all have to wait for the FSSAI to take action.”

• Also read: Tirupati Laddu beer adulteration case: Everything you need to know

Responding to questions about potential quality checks on ghee ahead of the festive season, Khare said, “We will take further action, if required, after the FSSAI report and provided there are consumer complaints on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH).”

The secretary clarified that food related complaints received on NCH are usually forwarded to FSSAI for action, given its expertise in the matter.

The controversy has sparked reactions across states. Karnataka has made testing of temple prasadam mandatory and specified the exclusive use of Nandini ghee for preparation. In Uttar Pradesh, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has collected 13 samples of ‘prasadam’ from prominent temples in Mathura for testing.

• Also read: 4-hour ritual disinfection at Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh

The issue came to light after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged on September 18 that the previous government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in Tirupati laddus. Naidu later announced a special investigation team to probe the allegations.

As the controversy continues to rage across the country, various sectors are demanding measures to preserve the sanctity of Hindu temples and their ‘prasadam’.