NEW DELHI: Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved has been issued a showcause notice by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for launching its instant noodle brand without the requisite permission from the food regulator.
Reacting to the development, Ramdev said in Kolkata on Saturday said that his company was yet to receive any notice from the food regulator.
“So far we haven’t received any notice. When the notice comes, we will give a reply as per law. We will reply to the notice at the earliest. But we assure you that we have the licence to manufacture and sell noodles.”
Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala also said the company hadn’t received any FSSAI notice. “I am not aware of any such notice issued to Patanjali, since we have not received it. We have followed all the rules and guidelines of FSSAI, which we have stated earlier as well”.
The food regulator has asked Patanjali to respond within 15 days. The company had said in a statement earlier that it had followed all the guidelines and regulations of the FSSAI while launching its instant atta noodles and other products. According to the company, it had obtained a licence to sell pasta. The company had also said that according to FSSAI guidelines, pasta and noodles fell in the same category.
In an internal order on November 17, FSSAI chairperson Ashish Bahuguna asked for action to be taken against the company for launching the noodle brand without the regulator’s permission.
After receiving the licence for selling pasta, Patanjali entered into agreements with various companies that have licences for making noodle, it had further said. The company further said that FSSAI had already admitted that it was no longer possible for it to continue with the process of product approval, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013, following a Supreme Court order in August.
Patanjali launched its atta noodle earlier this week in 70 gram packs priced at Rs 15, cheaper than competitors, aiming to taking on the market leader, Nestle. Nestle India’s Maggi noodle is now back on shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it, stating that it contained execessive lead content and monosodium glutamate, a claim the company has disproved in court.
Reacting to the development, Ramdev said in Kolkata on Saturday said that his company was yet to receive any notice from the food regulator.
“So far we haven’t received any notice. When the notice comes, we will give a reply as per law. We will reply to the notice at the earliest. But we assure you that we have the licence to manufacture and sell noodles.”
Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala also said the company hadn’t received any FSSAI notice. “I am not aware of any such notice issued to Patanjali, since we have not received it. We have followed all the rules and guidelines of FSSAI, which we have stated earlier as well”.
The food regulator has asked Patanjali to respond within 15 days. The company had said in a statement earlier that it had followed all the guidelines and regulations of the FSSAI while launching its instant atta noodles and other products. According to the company, it had obtained a licence to sell pasta. The company had also said that according to FSSAI guidelines, pasta and noodles fell in the same category.
In an internal order on November 17, FSSAI chairperson Ashish Bahuguna asked for action to be taken against the company for launching the noodle brand without the regulator’s permission.
After receiving the licence for selling pasta, Patanjali entered into agreements with various companies that have licences for making noodle, it had further said. The company further said that FSSAI had already admitted that it was no longer possible for it to continue with the process of product approval, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013, following a Supreme Court order in August.
Patanjali launched its atta noodle earlier this week in 70 gram packs priced at Rs 15, cheaper than competitors, aiming to taking on the market leader, Nestle. Nestle India’s Maggi noodle is now back on shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it, stating that it contained execessive lead content and monosodium glutamate, a claim the company has disproved in court.
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