Controversy Surrounding Tirupati Laddus Spurs FSDA Action

The Uttar Pradesh FSDA has collected 13 samples of 'prasadam' items from temples in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Govardhan for testing, amidst allegations of adulteration in Tirupati laddus. The move follows claims by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu about the use of animal fat in the laddus, sparking a political row.

Amid the controversy surrounding Tirupati laddus, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has collected 13 samples of items being sold as 'prasadam' outside the temples here and sent them for testing, an official said on Sunday.

The samples were collected over the past two days from the famous Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple of Mathura, Thakur Banke Bihari temple of Vrindavan and the Daan Ghati temple of Govardhan.

FSDA Assistant Commissioner Dhirendra Pratap Singh said the action has been taken in light of the alleged adulteration of Tirupati laddus.

After the laboratory report comes in, it will be known if there is any kind of adulteration in the items being sold here as 'prasadam', he said.

Singh said a campaign will be run in the entire district from Monday and teams will go to every area to collect samples.

He said that in the last two days, the team had collected samples from about 13 places and sent them to the laboratory. Further action will be taken based on the report, he said.

The assistant commissioner also said all the shopkeepers have been warned not to mix any unwanted substance in any food item, let alone 'prasadam'. Playing with the health of people will not be tolerated at any cost, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claim that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus during the previous government has triggered a massive political row, with the YSRCP accusing Naidu of indulging in ''heinous allegations'' for political gains and the TDP circulating a lab report to back its claim.

During an NDA legislature party meeting on Wednesday, Naidu claimed that the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat to make laddus.

(With inputs from agencies.)