A R Dairy Food Private Limited, a ghee supplier based in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, denied adulterating ghee supplied for Tirupati temple laddus and said its product samples had quality certifications, according to a 20 September 2024 report by The Indian Express. That company statement is a denial, not proof that every delivered batch met specifications. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, separately said testing found concerns in four tankers associated with AR Foods.
What did A R Dairy say?
The Indian Express reported on 20 September 2024 that A R Dairy Food Private Limited denied adulteration, said it supplied pure ghee and cited quality certifications for its product samples. The report identified the company as based in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The reported certification claim does not establish that every shipment or batch delivered to TTD met its requirements.
What did TTD say its testing found?
In a statement dated 20 September 2024, TTD Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao said the administration sent ghee samples to an outside laboratory after receiving complaints about laddu taste and quality and speaking with the workers who make the laddus. TTD said it had five ghee suppliers: Premier Agri Foods, Kriparam Diary, Vaishnavi, Sri Parag Milk and AR Dairy.
TTD said four tankers sent by AR Foods appeared prima facie to contain substandard ghee. It attributed its findings to analysis by NDDB CALF and reported S-values of 23.22 and 116 in samples, compared with a stated range of 98.05–104.32 for pure milk fat. TTD also said the results indicated vegetable oil contamination or other foreign fats. These are TTD’s public account of the test results; the underlying laboratory report is not reproduced in the cited material.
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Rao said: “After receiving feedback from pilgrims over the poor quality of laddus in the last few years and also interacting with the Potu workers(laddu makers), for the first time TTD sent ghee supplies to an outside lab for adulteration testing.”
What happened after the initial dispute?
FSSAI notice in September 2024
A 23 September 2024 report by The New Indian Express said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued a show-cause notice after four samples allegedly failed testing. The report also described the supplier’s denial and challenge to the private-laboratory findings. A show-cause notice is not a final adjudication, and the notice itself is not reproduced in the cited material.
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- SUPPORTS GUT HEALTH – Made from grass-fed butter, this ghee contains naturally occurring butyric acid and CLA, beneficial fatty acids that help support digestive balance and overall gut health. A simple, high-quality addition to your daily routine.
- A BETTER COOKING FAT – Made without seed oils, this grass-fed ghee is a clean, shelf stable clarified butter with a high smoke point, ideal for sautéing, roasting, frying, and baking. Delivers consistent performance and rich, buttery flavor in every dish.
- RICH, BUTTERY FLAVOR –Smooth and creamy with a subtle nutty finish. A versatile, 100% butter fat, perfect as a butter substitute for sweet and savory recipes, from baking to sauteing.
- YOUR VERSATILE KITCHEN STAPLE – Naturally lactose and casein free, this shelf-stable ghee requires no refrigeration and is compatible with Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free, and FODMAP lifestyles.
- EASY 1:1 SUBSTITUTE – Replace butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beef tallow, or other cooking oils with ghee at a 1:1 ratio for everyday cooking, baking, and sautéing.
Supply-chain allegations in February 2025
The Indian Express reported on 11 February 2025 that an Special Investigation Team (SIT) remand report alleged Bhole Baba Organic Dairy used Vaishnavi Dairy and AR Dairy as proxy companies after being blacklisted, and alleged AR Dairy fabricated documents for a tender. Those are allegations attributed to a remand report, not a conviction or an independently established finding in the cited reporting.
Different descriptions of the chargesheet in January 2026
On 30 January 2026, TTD published a statement quoting Chairman B.R. Naidu as saying the SIT chargesheet confirmed adulterated ghee had been used. The release records the chairman’s position; it does not reproduce the underlying chargesheet. It also attributes to him claims involving approximately 60 lakh kilograms of ghee, nearly ₹250 crore and nearly 20 crore laddus. Those figures are his account, not independently verified totals here.
Rank #3
- SUPPORTS GUT HEALTH – Made from grass-fed butter, this ghee contains naturally occurring butyric acid and CLA, beneficial fatty acids that help support digestive balance and overall gut health. A simple, high-quality addition to your daily routine.
- A BETTER COOKING FAT – Made without seed oils, this grass-fed ghee is a clean, shelf stable clarified butter with a high smoke point, ideal for sautéing, roasting, frying, and baking. Delivers consistent performance and rich, buttery flavor in every dish.
- RICH, BUTTERY FLAVOR –Smooth and creamy with a subtle nutty finish. A versatile, 100% butter fat, perfect as a butter substitute for sweet and savory recipes, from baking to sauteing.
- YOUR VERSATILE KITCHEN STAPLE – Naturally lactose and casein free, this shelf-stable ghee requires no refrigeration and is compatible with Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free, and FODMAP lifestyles.
- EASY 1:1 SUBSTITUTE – Replace butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beef tallow, or other cooking oils with ghee at a 1:1 ratio for everyday cooking, baking, and sautéing.
A January 2026 newspaper-page extract hosted by Business Standard summarized a CBI chargesheet report differently on a specific point: it said the chargesheet found no beef tallow or lard in ghee used from 2019 to 2024 and instead identified palm oils. The primary chargesheet was not reviewed in the cited material, so the difference between that summary and the TTD chairman’s description cannot be resolved here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is established—and what is not?
The public accounts distinguish three things: A R Dairy’s denial and certification claim; TTD’s account of initial laboratory testing; and later investigation allegations and reported chargesheet descriptions. They should not be treated as interchangeable evidence. The cited material does not establish that every laddu, every tanker or every period of supply was affected, nor does it independently establish that consumers were exposed to a particular substance.
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Rank #4
- SUPPORTS GUT HEALTH – Made from grass-fed butter, this ghee contains naturally occurring butyric acid and CLA, beneficial fatty acids that help support digestive balance and overall gut health. A simple, high-quality addition to your daily routine.
- A BETTER COOKING FAT – Made without seed oils, this grass-fed ghee is a clean, shelf stable clarified butter with a high smoke point, ideal for sautéing, roasting, frying, and baking. Delivers consistent performance and rich, buttery flavor in every dish.
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- YOUR VERSATILE KITCHEN STAPLE – Naturally lactose and casein free, this shelf-stable ghee requires no refrigeration and is compatible with Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free, and FODMAP lifestyles.
- EASY 1:1 SUBSTITUTE – Replace butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beef tallow, or other cooking oils with ghee at a 1:1 ratio for everyday cooking, baking, and sautéing.
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