NEW DELHI: The Central food safety regulator has ordered collection and testing of Maggi noodles samples from across the country after initial reports on some samples from Uttar Pradesh pointed to the presence of added monosodium glutamate (MSG) and excess of lead than the permissible limit.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked for sampling of the product from all states.
"We have initiated sampling from all the states. These samples will be sent for testing at our NABL accredited laboratories. We will decide on the further course of action only after examining the test results," Rakesh Chandra Sharma, director-enforcement and surveillance at FSSAI told TOI. He said a final test report is expected by end of this month.
Last week, TOI reported that Maggi noodles had come under regulatory scanner after samples collected in some parts of UP were found containing added MSG and lead in excess. The Lucknow Food Safety and Drug Administration had initiated inquiry and written to the FSSAI in New Delhi seeking to cancel the licence for Maggi.
Nestle, which manufactures Maggi, maintained it does not add MSG to the product and submitted product samples to an independent accredited laboratory. The results will be shared with the authorities, the company said. "The company does not agree with the order and is filing the requisite representations with the authorities," Nestle said in a statement issued on Thursday.
While some reports suggested the product was recalled from across the country, Nestle clarified that in April this year, Lucknow food safety regulatory authorities had asked for recall of only one batch containing 200,000 packs of Maggi.
Regulatory authorities said the issue is sensitive as the product is one of the major and most popular brands of the company. However, it also deals with the health of people and any decision would be crucial. Officials said the Central regulator may also seek details from Nestle once the sampling process is over.
Monosodium glutamate, a kind of amino acid which occurs naturally in many agricultural products, is often also added artificially to packaged food to enhance flavor. Regulators and experts say such additives can be harmful for health, mainly for children. Food safety regulations mandate companies to specify on the packaging if MSG has been added.
Initial sampling of Maggi noodles and test results in UP showed the product containing 17 parts per million lead, whereas the permissible limit is 0.01ppm. Nestle says its records show lead content is negligible and less than 1 % of the fixed limit.
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