No compromise on food safety, Maggi violated norms: Health Minister

Updated

New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI): With the central food safety regulator ordering withdrawal of nine approved variants of Maggi, Health ministry today said it is of the "confirmed" opinion that the product failed to adhere to safety norms and assured that no compromise will be done on food safety.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda said that his Ministry had received the reports from all the states and after assessing them it has come to the conclusion that the nine variants of Maggi should be recalled.

"We have come to the conclusion that the food safety and standards have not been adhered by Nestle company and Maggi products and that is why we have given instructions that all nine products (variants) should be recalled from the market," Nadda said.

Asked about Nestle CEO's statement that Maggi was safe, Nadda said that his ministry has gone through the reports which every state has sent to it and then reached the conclusion.

"We have got the reports from every state now and we are of the confirmed opinion that the Maggi product was not following the ingredients and the safety measures which were required and that is why we have come to this conclusion that the product should be recalled from the market," he said.

Coming down heavily on Swiss giant Nestle, the central food safety regulator FSSAI has earlier ordered recall of all nine approved variants of Maggi instant noodles from the market, terming them "unsafe and hazardous" for human consumption.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also said that Nestle launched 'Maggi Oats Masala Noodles' without approval and ordered its recall, saying the company did not undertake risk and safety assessment for the product.

Nadda asserted that Nestle had also not followed the regulations of labelling while another of its variant, Maggi masala oats noodles tastemaker, was in the market without prior approval of the government which is why it too have been ordered to be recalled.

"I would like to assure people of our country that no compromise will be done as far as the food safety and security is concerned. All measures will be taken and all levels of security and safety of food will be adhered to," Nadda said.

Unfazed by mounting trouble over the alleged presence of lead and MSG in Maggi noodles, Nestle today said the product is safe but is withdrawing it from the Indian market as "unfounded reasons" have created "confusion" affecting consumer trust.

After Delhi, four more states -- Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttarakhand -- have banned the sale of Maggi noodles, as the popular instant snack came under mounting scrutiny over food safety concerns.

Earlier Report

Nestle India takes Maggi off the shelves

New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI): Nestlé India on Thursday decided to take Maggi off the shelves after a controversy erupted over its contents, prompting several states to ban the 'two-minute' noodles.

Asserting that the product was "completely safe", the company in a statement late tonight said, "Unfortunately, recent developments and unfounded concerns about the product have led to an environment of confusion for the consumer, to such an extent that we have decided to withdraw the product off the shelves..."

"We promise that the trusted MAGGI Noodles will be back in the market as soon as the current situation is clarified," it added.

After Delhi, four more states -- Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand-- today banned the sale of Maggi noodles after concerns were raised over presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead beyond permissible levels in the product.

The Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand governments banned the sale of Nestle's instant noodles for three months while in Gujarat the ban will be effective for one month after some samples of the food had failed lab tests, officials said in Chennai, Dehradun and Gandhinagar.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the state government banned the sale for one month till the receipt of reports over the fitness of the fast food for human consumption.

The four states also ordered the noodle manufacturers Nestle India to immediately withdraw the stocks.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are awaiting results of tests of samples of the noodles taken from the respective states before taking any action. Delhi had yesterday banned sale of the food item for 15 days.

Apart from Maggi, the Gujarat government also tested one sample each of instant noodles of Sunfeast and S K Foods and has banned the latter for a month as high lead content of 4 PPM was found in it.