Key Update

A one-man committee appointed by the Andhra Pradesh government has flagged serious food safety lapses in the procurement of ghee used for Tirumala laddu prasadam, along with broader administrative and procedural failures.

Food Safety Violations at the Core

A CFTRI laboratory report dated August 3, 2022, detected β-sitosterol—a marker of vegetable oil adulteration—in all tested samples. Despite this confirmed evidence, authorities failed to act, did not blacklist suppliers, and continued procurement. They also failed to enforce mandatory β-sitosterol testing introduced on July 1, 2022. As a result, officials procured over 70 lakh kilograms of ghee without mandatory testing and accepted large quantities without proper verification.

Ghee Used Before Test Clearance

In a major lapse, officials used ghee consignments to prepare laddu prasadam even before receiving laboratory test results, raising serious food safety concerns. The report also points to a suspected adulteration network, with compromised ghee continuing to enter the supply chain despite known quality

Other Lapses Noted

The panel has also flagged accountability gaps, dilution of tender norms, and weaknesses in the procurement system, while identifying food safety failures as the most critical concern. It has recommended strict action against those responsible and emphasised the need for real-time testing, stronger enforcement of food safety standards, and tighter oversight to prevent such lapses in the future.

Source: Deccan Herald