Even as panic-ridden State Governments from across the country lifted Maggi instant noodles’ samples for lab testing, Delhi became the first State to ban its sale on Wednesday after higher lead contents were found in 10 out of 13 samples in the Capital. But there was some good news for Maggi-lovers as Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra and Chandigarh gave the noodle a clean chit after the samples tested negative for higher lead content.
In Delhi, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found lead contents exceeding prescribed limits in Maggi noodles. The maximum permissible limit of lead is 2.5 parts per million (PPM). However, lead in samples of the Maggi taste-maker that accompanies the noodles in Delhi ranged between 3.9 to 4.5 PPM.
While the Delhi Government has directed Nestlé India to withdraw its stock within 15 days, the Future Group has stopped Maggi’s sale in its Big Bazaar outlets. Delhi has also ordered verification of the taste-makers of all other brands of instant noodles selling in the city. “last week, 13 samples were collected from the entire Capital, out of which five samples of the taste-makers had monosodium glutamate without proper label declaration, and ten samples of the taste-makers contained excessive lead,” said Health Minister Satyendra Jain.
“We have banned the sale of Maggi noodles in the entire national Capital for 15 days and asked the Nestlé India officials to replace all the previous stock from the market,” said Jain, adding that new batches of the Maggi noodles will only be launched in the market after proper verification at Delhi Government’s laboratory.
A case will be registered under the Food Adulteration Act and stringent action will also be taken, said Jain. “Even a common man can give the sample of Maggi noodles to the Delhi Government’s laboratory for the verification of the taste-makers and its expense will be borne by the Government,” the Minister added.
Nestlé India officials, however, maintain lead and monosodium content in the taste-makers are in the permissible limit. Yet, in all this controversy, Nestlé India’s shares tanked 10 per cent. The Centre, for its part, referred the issue to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to take appropriate action even as more States like Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Meghalaya, Haryana and West Bengal lifted samples for tests.
However, the Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra and Chandigarh Governments had no complains after the samples checked in these States tested negative for higher lead content. “We have taken some samples but not found any negative reports,” Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Maharashtra Girish Bapat said, adding around eight to ten samples of Maggi have been tested by the Government. “To do a detailed analysis of their product, we need to test samples from different batches, the work for which is going on. A problem can be identified once more such samples from other batches are tested,” Bapat said.
“The samples (of Maggi) which were drawn from the State's markets did not have any ingredient which is harmful,” said Goa Food and Drug Administration's Deputy-Director, Jyoti Sardesai. She said the samples were taken from the market and also from the North Goa-based Nestlé India factory. Chandigarh Food Safety Cell, Designated officer, Sukhwinder Singh said: “As per laboratory report, no lapse was found in three samples of Maggi noodles collected from various parts of the city. The samples of Maggi noodles were found in conformity with the food safety standards”.
Since Defence procurements are more cumbersome the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force too have verbally asked its personnel to set aside the product till further orders and not to sell them in CSD canteens. Gujarat also collected 37 samples of Maggi noodles for testing. The results are expected by Thursday afternoon. State health officials said in case irregularities are found in the product, it will be banned. “Emphasis has been given on finding out the proportion of lead and MCG during the laboratory testing,” said a senior official of Gujarat's Food and Drug Department.
“We have heard so many things but we do not want to act in a hurry. As we want all the sides to have a level playing field we have decided to first conduct our own tests on the products and then take a decision on the issue,” said West Bengal State Consumers Affairs Minister Sadhan Pande. West Bengal too has sent samples for testing results for which are awaited. “We don't want a panic situation. We also want to act in a way so that business is not affected and health concerns are also taken care of,” Pande added. Meanwhile, former Union Health Minister and PMK leader Anubmani Ramadoss demanded testing of all junk food for the presence of unhealthy content in the larger interest of children.