The Central Food Laboratory (CFL), Kolkata, has found traces of aluminium and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in Maggi samples from Karnataka.
According to the report submitted by CFL to the State Health department, it found 0.119 ppm of aluminium in the samples tested. The State Health department is however yet to ascertain what the permissible limit for aluminium is from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In food, aluminium compounds can occur naturally or as part of food additives. CFL has however ruled out the presence of lead in the three samples it has tested so far.
The department received the report on three samples sent from Bengaluru Urban to the lab on June 15, on Tuesday. It is also awaiting results of samples sent from BBMP zone and Bengaluru Rural.
Dr H S Shivakumar, Deputy Director of the department said that once the results on the samples are received, a report would be submitted to FSSAI.
“The presence of aluminium is negligible. But owing to the health scare the product has created countrywide, we cannot take any chances. Also, this is for the first time that aluminium presence has been detected. FSSAI is the only authority that can give the clearance to lift the ban,” he said.
He also said that Karnataka had not been able to take a stand on the presence of MSG in Maggi, as the Centre has not prescribed the permissible limits for it. Karnataka would submit the CFL results to FSSAI during the Advisory Committee meeting of the Authority on October 13.
The results have come at a time when Karnataka was all set to lift the ban on the product. Health Minister U T Khader said the results from CFL had taken too long, and that he was contemplating lifting the ban on Maggi in the State.
“We sent the samples to CFL three months ago. We have also destroyed the existing product, withdrawn stocks, and ensured that Maggi has stopped production in Nanjangud. However, despite repeated reminders to CFL, the lab had not sent us the results. This has put us in a spot, as there is no clarity on the matter. We have continued with the ban only paying heed to FSSAI directive,” he said. The Bombay High Court has lifted the ban on Maggi, with a rider.
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