District food authorities are scratching their head about the delay in the arrival of final report on the level of lead and mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) in the two-minute instant noodles (Maggi) with no plausible explanation to explain the delay. Even after a fortnight most of the districts are yet to get a copy of the report.Notably, report on samples collected from Ranchi dispelled the fear of excessive content of lead while the report on MSG is still awaited.
“We have not received report as money has to be sent,” said Designated Officer of Dhanbad, Dr AK Sinha.Almost all districts had collected samples of Maggi about a fortnight ago and the samples were sent to Kolkata for laboratory test. The report for samples collected from Ranchi could not be obtained on time as the department failed to pay laboratory charges but district authorities secured report on lead content by paying the lab fee while a report on MSG has not been sent by the Kolkata based laboratory.
As delay in payment threatened to stall Jharkhand’s fight against packaged food unfit for consumption, state authorities directed DOs to label the samples with a note regarding release of payment upon receiving report from the laboratory.“We were asked to stick a label with the sample that payment would be made after receiving the report. Still we are awaiting the report. I don’t know what went wrong,” said Koderma DO, Dr Ramesh Chandra Sahay.
Meanwhile, state food authorities are yet not sure about the future course of action as Maggi continues to live off the shelf across retail stores. The awareness at state directorate is too low to even sense any official stand in the offing.“We don’t receive reports. It is sent to the districts. As far as resumption of sale is concerned, the company has pulled back its product so the question of allowing sale doesn’t arise,” said Director Food, Dr Pravin Chandra.