Confused over varying test results on the presence of lead, aluminium and monosodium glutamate in four samples of Maggi sent to the Central Food Laboratory (CFL), Kolkata, the State Health Department is all set to get the samples retested from a private NABL laboratory outside the State.
Health Minister U.T. Khader told The Hindu on Wednesday that the need for a retest was felt as the reports of same samples tested in private laboratories in the State had shown different results. “We don’t know which lab to believe. Varying reports and absence of clarity in the Food Safety and Standards Act on the permissible levels of these substances are confusing. So we need to get a retest,” he said. The current ban on sale of Maggi in the State that has been imposed following directions from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will continue for the time being. However, a final decision will be taken after the State receives the new report and a clarification from the FSSAI about permissible limits, he said.
Meanwhile, sources in the State Food Safety division said that the CFL, Kolkata — that tested three Maggi samples from the State (two from Bengaluru Rural and one from Gadag) for the presence of toxic substances — ruled that two of the samples are “unsafe” for consumption.
“Of the three samples, the report of just one sample said the product is safe. Of the other two, one sample was found to be mislabelled as although it had traces of MSG, the label did not mention it. The same sample also exhibited the presence of aluminium (0.119 ppm) and hence it was termed as unsafe,” a senior official explained. “The third sample showed the presence of both lead (2.6 ppm) and aluminium (0.24 ppm) and has been termed unsafe. But the laboratory authorities have not explained as to why the sample is unsafe (is it because of lead or aluminium?). So we will write to them seeking a clarification,” the official said.
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