FSSAI draws lines for instant noodles manufacturers by drafting guidelines

Expressing concerns over quality of maggi noodles, the Supreme Court sought Mysore laboratory report on lead and msg levels in the instant noodles, reported PTI.

SC has asked Mysore lab to clarify whether test reports relating to lead and glutamic acid in Maggi are within permissible parameters under the law. The lab will give its report within eight weeks.

The apex court was hearing appeal filed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) against the Bombay High Court verdict.

The Bombay High Court had on 13th August lifted the ban on nine variants of the fast food and asked the company to go for fresh tests.

The food regulator had appealed to the apex court against HC order overturning the nationwide ban on Maggi instant noodles.

The SC had on December 16 ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in Mysore laboratory after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that it be done in Chennai.

A bench of justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant said, “During course of the hearing they (Centre and Nestle) agreed that the primary concern is health and the test has to be carried out to meet the parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.”

“The consent was arrived that Mysore is well-equipped with all tests and being a referral notified laboratory, sample should be sent there,” it said.

Nestle India Ltd, during the arguments through senior advocate Harish Salve, opposed NCDRC’s direction for test at Chennai saying it is not accredited for salt and lead test.

This was vehemently opposed by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, who said that on their request the sample has been sent to Chennai. Later Nestle India and the Centre agreed for testing samples at Mysore.

Maggi lovers are celebrating the return of the popular instant snack after Nestle resumed its sale in several cities on Monday, nearly five months after it was banned over allegations by the food regulator that it contained excessive lead and mislabelling over flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG), reported ET.

At Rs 2,000 crore, Maggi used to be Nestle's biggest brand before the controversy. Its nationwide ban and the subsequent recall of the product in June this year wiped out not only the instant noodles category but significantly dented sales of the entire packaged snacks category.

Nestle also tied up with online retailer Snapdeal and consumers snapped up the stipulated quota of 60,000 kits of Maggi in a matter of minutes. While online grocery company Grofers said it had to restrict sale to three packets per order, from six earlier, when demand for the product spiraled on Tuesday. Grofers said it sold about 30,000 packets that day besides distributed about 4,000 packets of Maggi with various orders.

According to Nestle, demand for Maggi has far exceeded supply even as the company is awaiting approval to manufacture the snack in eight more states. "We have supplied almost 2.5 crore packs of Maggi noodles in the first four days and the demand is overwhelming," a Nestle spokesperson said.

"We are making efforts to ramp up operations as rapidly as we can and are also engaging with the relevant authorities in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to obtain directions for commencing manufacture of Maggi noodles there as well," said the spokesperson on Nestle is now stepping up production.

Nestle further says Punjab too has removed restrictions on sale of Maggi noodles.