Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a show cause notice to AR Dairy Food Private Limited, in the wake of reports which claimed that ‘animal fat’ was used in the adulterated ghee used as an ingredient for making Tirupati laddus, sources said here on Monday.

The authority issued the notice to AR Dairy Food Private Limited, one of the suppliers of ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) after the sample of the firm sent for testing to NDDB CALF Lab at Anand, Gujarat failed to meet the parameters, sources added. They further said the FSSAI also noted that the ghee manufactured by the firm was not meeting the standards and it has contravened the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations.

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Informing that the FSSAI asked the firm why the license shall not be suspended, sources said it directed to send the reply by 23rd September, failing which suitable action will be initiated. Notably, on September 20, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda said he sought a report from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the matter and added that suitable action will be taken accordingly after examining the report.

Last week, the YSRCP had approached Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a probe into the allegations made by CM Naidu that under the previous government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, ‘animal fat’ was used in the adulterated ghee used as an ingredient for making famed Tirupati laddus.

The claim by Naidu at a meeting of NDA to mark 100 days of his government created a huge controversy since the laddus are offered to Lord Venkateshwar at Tirupati and consumed by millions as prasadam.

After the denial by former TTD chairmen, YV Subba Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who accused Naidu of tarnishing the sanctity of Tirupati for political reasons, the YSRCP approached the High Court for a court-monitored probe.