Following the directive of the Food and Safety Standards of India, Jharkhand joined the league of States to put Maggi under microscope over alleged violation of permitted limit of lead and monosodium glutamate as the State food authorities collected samples in each district to send it for confirming the violation reported elsewhere in the country.
State food authorities directed district officers of food safety to randomly collect samples of Maggi from retail stores which will be directly sent to national-level testing unit at Kolkata for testing on the parameters that can confirm about any deviations with regard to permissible level of additives in the ‘two-minute’ meal formula that captivated junk food lovers. The department collected samples from some of the known retain chain stores in Ranchi in last 2-3 days.
“We have level-1 grade laboratory so it is the instruction of FSSI to send samples to Kolkata for testing. They would examine the samples on various parameters. It would take around 14 days to get detailed report,” said Director, Food, Pravin Chandra.
Notwithstanding the hue and cry raised over the alleged dangerous effects of the contents in question and the resultant measures invoked by few states, Jharkhand government is yet to adopt a clear position on the sale of the most commonly known brand from the Switzerland-based company. As the brand took severe beating because of the ongoing controversy, it is still visible on the shelf at traditional stores and major retail giants across Ranchi.
“let me enquire the matter with the Principal Secretary, Health to know what is happening on this matter,” said Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Saryu Roy.
Interestingly as the instant noodles is facing heat from several states the department of Health is still awaiting for the final report from the national-level testing laboratory to initiate action against the multinational company.
“The report will be sent directly to the districts and if there is any need of action then that report will be forwarded to us. As of now there is no proposal to prohibit sale of Maggi,” added Chandra.
The controversy erupted after a case was lodged against Nestle India by state food regulator FSDA in a local court at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh over safety standards of Maggi and some of the known faces like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have also been separately dragged to court for promoting the 'two-minute' noodles brand. The FSDA of Uttar Pradesh had found dangerously high levels of lead in a 2014 batch of the instant noodles manufactured by Nestle India, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Nestle SA.