Tamil Nadu’s AR Dairy, Not Amul Supplied Adulterated Ghee to Tirupati Temple

The faith of millions of Hindus was shaken when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu revealed that the laddus distributed as Prasadam at the Tirupati Balaji Temple contained fish oil, lard, and beef. The Chief Minister’s claims were later substantiated by a laboratory report. Following this shocking revelation, blame-shifting politics ensued. Social media users claimed that previously, Karnataka-based Nandini dairy supplied the ghee used in making the laddus at Tirupati Balaji, but in 2023, the Nandini brand was replaced by Gujarat-based Amul. Some users insinuated that the ghee supplied by Amul contained beef and lard.

Communist Mini Nair asserted, ‘ Connect the dots!! Nandini ( Karnataka) was removed and Amul (Gujarat) was awarded the contract to make the Prasadam.’

Congress worker and fake news peddler Spirit of Congress stated, ‘Nandini used to supply pure quality Ghee till 2023 for Tirumal Tirupati Devasthanam. (TTD). Then, Nadini was removed and Amul was given the contract to supply ghee to TTD.’

Congress supporter Chandan Sinha claimed, ‘So, It was Amul who supplied Ghee for Tirupati Laddu. Nandini used to supply pure quality Ghee till 2023 for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.(TTD) Then.. Nandini was removed and Amul was given the contract to supply ghee to TTD.’

So, It was Amul who supplied Ghee for #TirupathiLaddu #TirumalaLaddu

Nandini used to supply pure quality Ghee till 2023 for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.(TTD)

Then.. Nandini was removed and Amul was given the contract to supply ghee to TTD. pic.twitter.com/krivGXGQd5

— Chandan Sinha (@chandanAIPC) September 20, 2024

X handle Indian wrote, ‘Amul won the contract to supply Ghee in TTD in 2023. Why there is always a Gujarat connection.’

Amul brand ka ghee tender jeeta tha Tirupati ka 2023 mein.

Har jagah Gujrat ka connection hi kyun samne aata hai? pic.twitter.com/3GntrqndkN

— An Indian (@banjara1991) September 20, 2024

X handle Sir Kazam claimed, ‘In early 2023, main Ghee supplier to Tirupati was changed from Nandini to Amul. Interestingly, just before last elections BJP attacked Nandini and wanted it to merge with Amul. Not to mention the Gujarat connection and who controls the cooperative milk industry in Gujarat.’

In early 2023, main Ghee supplier to Tirupati was changed from Nandini to Amul

Interestingly, just before last elections BJP attacked Nandini and wanted it to merge with Amul. Not to mention the Gujarat connection and who controls the cooperative milk industry in Gujarat.

— Sir Kazam {blu tik} (@SirKazamJeevi) September 20, 2024

Mohammad Iliyas wrote, ‘Firstly, KMF of Karnataka was a major supplier of ghee to Tirupati. Who changed that to Amul, just because it’s from Gujarat? Ask your leaders, including @narendramodi, about it first. Due to a good tie-up with @YSRCParty, Modi may have changed the supplier to Amul.’

Firstly, KMF of Karnataka was a major supplier of ghee to Tirupati. Who changed that to Amul, just because it's from Gujarat? Ask your leaders, including @narendramodi, about it first. Due to a good tie-up with @YSRCParty, Modi may have changed the supplier to Amul.

— Md iliyas (@mdiliyas77) September 21, 2024

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Fact Check 

We began our fact-checking process by searching for relevant keywords associated with the claims in question. During this, we found that Amul had issued a press note categorically denying any involvement in supplying ghee to the Tirupati Balaji Temple. The press note stated, “This is in reference to some social media posts mentioning that Amul Ghee was being supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). We wish to inform that we have never supplied Amul Ghee to TTD.

We also wish to clarify that Amul Ghee is made from milk at our state-of-the-art production facilities, which are ISO-certified. Amul Ghee is made from high-quality pure milk fat. The milk received at our dairies undergoes stringent quality checks, including adulteration detection as specified by FSSAI.

Amul Ghee has been India’s most trusted ghee brand for over 50 years and continues to be an integral part of Indian households.

This post is being issued to counter the misinformation campaign against Amul.”

Issued in Public Interest by Amul pic.twitter.com/j7uobwDtJI

— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) September 20, 2024

Next, we examined the news article shared along with the claims and found that South First published an article on August 1, 2023, speculating that Amul had been contracted to supply ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Temple. The article speculated, “Even as speculation was rife that Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul had been chosen to supply ghee for making the iconic laddu prasad of the world-famous Tirumala temple, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy said the supply contract could not be awarded on a nomination basis.”

Furthermore, we came across a report by The Hindu which detailed that during a press conference, Mr. Rao revealed the findings of adulteration. Among the five suppliers contracted to provide ghee, AR Dairy was the sole offender, with its products found to contain dangerously high levels of foreign fats.

Additionaly, we found a Hindustan Times report published on September 21, 2024, which revealed that one of the ghee suppliers, AR Dairy Food Private Limited, was accused of providing “substandard quality” products to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the temple and the production of laddus, as reported by the PTI news agency. However, AR Dairy, a Tamil Nadu-based company that supplied ghee to the Tirupati temple, denied any allegations of animal fat in its products.

In conclusion, Amul’s Gujarat-based dairy company has not supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Temple. Instead, it was Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy that provided ghee adulterated with impure foreign fats for use in the preparation of prasadam at the temple. Moreover, Amul has taken legal action against the social media accounts involved in spreading false information tarnishing its reputation.

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