Updated

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI): Acting tough, Delhi government today banned the sale of popular instant noodles Maggi for 15 days and asked the Indian arm of Swiss manufacturer Nestle to withdraw the existing stock.

Announcing the decision, Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain said that a fresh stock of Maggi noodles will be tested following which a decision will be taken.He also said government will carry out lab testing of all other noodles brands available in the city and will take action based on the reports.

"Government has put a ban on Maggi noodles for 15 days. We have asked Nestle India to withdraw Maggi stocks within 15 days. We will carry out lab testing of fresh stocks and a decision will be taken accordingly thereafter," Jain said.

The decision came nearly two hours after several top Nestle India officials explained to him their position on the issue.

Jain said government will file a case against Nestle India in court as per provisions of the Food Adulteration Act and will "not compromise" on issues relating to health safety.

Yesterday, the Delhi government had said that it found samples of Maggi noodles "unsafe" for consumption as it contained lead beyond the permissible level in Maggi masala (tastemaker).

According to officials, a total of 13 samples of masala (tastemaker) were lifted by authorities from various areas of the city last week of which 10 were found unsafe.Five samples of masala were also having monosodium glutamate without proper label declaration which is an offence under the category of misbranding, they said.A number of states including Kerala and Haryana have initiated steps on the Maggi issue.

The probe into alleged lapses of food safety standards has already been expanded to test Maggi noodle samples from across the country following detection of monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in the noodles.However, Nestle India claimed it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as in-house and that the product was found "safe to eat".

Big Bazaar stops Maggi sale at stores across India

In a major setback for Nestle, the country's largest supermarket chain operator Future Group today stopped sale of the Swiss multinational's famous Maggi noodles brand at all its stores across the country.

The move -- the first by a retailer in the country -- follows country-wide probe against the 'two-minute' instant food brand for alleged presence of lead and taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond permissible limits.

"In the interest of consumer sentiment and concerns, we have taken Maggi noodles off the shelves from all our stores for the time being. We will wait for more clarity from authorities to take any further course of action," a Future Group spokesperson said.

Modern retail outlets like Big Bazaar run by the Future Group contribute a large chunk of sales for FMCG firms, including Nestle.

The Future Group operates retail formats under brands such as Big Bazaar, Easy day, KB's and Nilgiris, with 570 stores across 243 cities.

Today, Nestle India said it has not received any order from the central or any state FDA authority for recall of its Maggi noodles as the controversy over safety issues deepened.

"We have not received any official communication from the authorities so far," the company said in a BSE filing.

Nestle's Maggi noodle has been at the centre of a raging storm after UP FDA tests found higher than stipulated levels of lead and MSG in it.

Several state governments have ordered similar tests.Yesterday, the Delhi government decided to initiate a case against Nestle India after it found samples of Maggi noodles "unsafe" for consumption. The probe into alleged lapses has already widened to different parts of the country.

However, Nestle India claimed that it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as its in-house one, and the product is found "safe to eat".

Earlier Report

Live larvae found in milk powder sample of Nestle

Coimbatore, Jun 3 (PTI): Facing trouble in many states over the safety of its popular Maggi noodles, Nestle India has courted fresh trouble after a preliminary test by a state agency of a sample of their milk powder allegedly found live larvae in it.

The Drug Administration Department (food safety wing), tested the NAN PRO3 milk powder, bought by a cab driver and the initial report by one of its food analysts found live larvae in the sample.

The report also found it unsafe for consumption as it contained live insects and did not conform to standards, a health department official, on condition of anonymity said.

The driver had claimed that his child had developed skin allergy after consuming the milk and gave the sample for testing.

The official said they are awaiting a comprehensive report from the Government food safety laboratory.

Nestle denies receiving recall order from central, state FDAs

Nestle India today said it has not received any order from the central or any state FDA authority for recall of its Maggi noodles as the controversy over safety issues deepened.

"We have not received any official communication from the authorities so far," the company said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "We wish to state that we have till now not received any orders from any state/Centre FDA authorities to recall Maggi noodle products in the market except an order from the Uttar Pradesh FDA dated 30.4.2015 asking us to recall a batch of Maggi noodles manufactured in February 2014, which had already reached the 'Best Before date' in November 2014."

Meanwhile, Kishore Biyani-led Future Group today stopped selling Maggi in its retail stores.

"In the interest of consumer sentiment and concerns, we have taken Maggi noodles off the shelves from all our stores for the time being. We will wait for more clarity from authorities to take any further course of action," a Future Group spokesperson said.
Modern trade retail outlets like Big Bazaar contribute a large chunk of sales for FMCG firms, including Nestle.

Nestle India, which has been at the receiving end with several state governments ordering tests to find out lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in Maggi noodles, said it's "cooperating with the authorities".

Yesterday, the Delhi government decided to initiate a case against Nestle India after it found samples of Maggi noodles "unsafe" for consumption. The probe into alleged lapses has already widened to different parts of the country.

However, Nestle India claimed that it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as its in-house one, and the product is found "safe to eat"

In Karnataka, Health Minister U T Khader said officials have been directed to randomly lift samples of Maggi noodles for laboratory testing. Haryana, too, ordered the same. The West Bengal Food department has convened a meeting tomorrow to take a call on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is undertaking more tests in the wake of the findings of Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration.

Earlier this week, the Consumer Affairs Ministry said strict action will be taken for any violation.

A case has already been lodged against Nestle India by UP food regulator FSDA in a Barabanki court in UP.

Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta were also separately dragged into the matter for endorsing the noodles brand.