Poor supply of ghee.. TTD blacklisted the contractor
Tirupati: In order to maintain the quality of Srivari laddoos, TTD has blacklisted a contractor who supplied substandard ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam temple. The move was taken following certification and testing of ghee samples by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao said on Tuesday that one out of five suppliers of ghee failed to comply with TTD standards, and NABL tests showed adulteration of vegetable oils.
‘We have issued a show cause notice to the supplier and blacklisted the company for violating the tender rules,’ said Shyamala Rao at a media conference in Tirumala on Tuesday. The EO stated that the TTD’s strict measures will serve as a warning to all suppliers involved in the manufacture of laddus. To address the decline in laddu quality in recent years, we have constituted a committee of dairy farming experts and scientists. This group studies ghee testing procedures. Identifies gaps in the process. Their report within a week will guide them in improving the overall quality of prasadam, he added.
Acknowledging the importance of quality cow ghee in enhancing the aroma and taste of Srivari laddoos, EO Shyamala Rao emphasized that despite the high cost, TTD does not compromise on procurement standards. He mentioned the need to set up adulteration testing equipment in Tirumala. TTD is considering setting up its own state-of-the-art FSSAI lab at Tirumala. “This facility will enable on-site testing of various ingredients used in the preparation of prasadam,” said Evo.
