Operation Laddu: India Today tests purity of temple sweets across major cities

In its ongoing series “Operation Laddu,” India Today conducted a rigorous second-phase investigation to test the purity of sweets sold outside renowned temples in Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai. This phase saw lab experts collecting samples from select temples and nearby shops, putting the sweets to test in different laboratories to determine if they met the purity standards, particularly regarding the use of desi ghee.
In Delhi, lab experts from Shriram Institute and India Today’s team visited four sites: Jhandewalan Mandir, Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, Punjab Dairy, and Manohar Cakes in Vijay Nagar.
Jhandewalan Mandir
Outside the central Delhi temple, a shop attendant openly admitted to making sweets with Vanaspati and vegetable oils, not desi ghee, yet allowed the team to sample 250 grams of laddu for further testing.
Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
Here, the team acquired a sample of “Suddh Desi Ghee ka Prasad” directly from an outlet within the temple complex. Due to temple rules, they filmed at a distance, documenting the procurement of 100 grams of laddu.
Punjab Dairy — Milk Products Shop
In Ashok Vihar, they obtained half a kilogram of high-priced ghee (Rs 850 per kilo) from this reputed shop. The sample was acquired discreetly to ensure no influence on the testing process.
Manohar Cakes in Vijay Nagar
At this middle-class locality’s popular sweet shop, the team bought a 250-gram sample of boondi laddu, marketed as pure desi ghee sweets.
After a week of analysis, Shriram Institute’s Director, Dr. Mukul Das, confirmed the results: “Three out of four samples are fine… no adulteration found; the fourth sample was made in Vanaspati and refined oil.” His statement clarified that samples from Hanuman Mandir, Manohar Cakes, and Punjab Dairy met the desi ghee standards, while the Jhandewalan sample confirmed the shopkeeper’s claim of using Vanaspati and vegetable oil.
India Today’s Lucknow segment targeted sweets sold outside the Mankameshwar and Hanuman Setu temples. Samples were collected from reputed sweet shops and sent to the state government’s Food Safety Department lab for testing.
Mankameshwar Temple
At a prominent shop near this famous temple, shop owner Dharma Yadav defended the purity of his products, stating that any suspicions should warrant investigation. Yet, a sample from his shop revealed a BR (Butyro Refractometer) reading of 56.87, indicating the presence of refined vegetable oils rather than desi ghee.
Hanuman Setu Temple
In contrast, the laddu sample from this temple’s vicinity, procured from a 60-year-old establishment, passed the lab test with a consistent desi ghee profile, confirming its authenticity.
Vinit Singh, Assistant Commissioner at the UP Food Safety Department, validated these findings, noting, “One sample shows Desi Ghee… The other sample’s BR reading shows refined vegetable oil as the cooking medium.” Thus, only one out of two Lucknow temple samples met desi ghee purity standards.
In Mumbai, India Today examined prasad from the renowned Siddhivinayak Temple, where temple authorities recently faced scrutiny after a viral video showed rats near prasad storage area, a claim they denied. To provide clarity, the India Today team sent samples to TUV India’s lab in Pune.
Siddhivinayak Temple Laddu and Barfi
Testing by TUV India found that both the laddu and barfi samples were free of contaminants and within permissible limits. The fatty acid profile, chlorophyll levels, heavy metals, and bacterial counts all complied with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. No synthetic colours, arsenic, or prohibited substances were detected. TUV India concluded that Siddhivinayak’s laddu and barfi prasad were safe for consumption.
India Today’s investigation reveals a varied quality of sweets across locations:
“Operation Laddu” highlights an essential concern: The quality and authenticity of sweets consumed by millions of devotees across India vary significantly. With this transparency, India Today emphasises the need for vigilant quality control, helping consumers make informed choices about the purity of temple offerings.