In the latest development in Tirupati Laddu row, The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the FSSAI to issue supplementary notice and grant time to AR Dairy Food, Dindigul.
The bench including Justice N. Sathish Kumar was hearing the petition filed by A. R. Dairy Food. The firm was represented by G. Kannan, the authorised signatory. The petitioner had challenged the show cause notice issued to the company.
Why Was The Show Cause Notice Issued To AR Dairy?
Notably, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued show cause notice to AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd after it failed to meet the parameters and the firm was blacklisted by EO, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
The show cause notice stated, “By virtue of the above non-conformance of the product ‘Ghee’ manufactured by your firm which is not meeting the standards, you have contravened the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under”.
AR Dairy Food Private Limited was one of the suppliers of ghee for making Tirupati Prasad since last four years.
The Ministry had sought reply from AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd by 23 September, failing which action as per the Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 and regulations would be initiated.
“To show cause as to why, your Central License shall not be suspended for contravention of the above said provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. The reply in this regard shall be sent by 23.09.2024 failing which suitable action will be initiated as per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Regulations made there under,” the notice added.
However, AR Dairy Food Private Limited had denied the allegation of sending adulterated ghee to the temple. The dairy assured that their ghee is uncontaminated. They have been sending ghee for years but no complaint about the quality was ever received.
What Ignited Tirupati Laddu Row?
The controversy over Tirupati Laddu erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accused that ‘animal fat’ was used in making laddus of Tirupati during the tenure of Former Andhra Pradesh CM and YSRCP leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. After these allegations, several developments took place with political leaders making statement, demand for investigation increased.
On September 19, a report by Gujarat based private laboratory, NDDB CALF revealed that the samples of the ghee used in making Tirupati laddus contained foreign fat, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow and pig fat.