Latest developments in row over Maggi's food safety

After samples of “Maggi” noodles manufactured in March 2014 were reportedly found to contain high lead content and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), the instant noodles brand in under scrutiny by various state governments and Union Consumer Affairs Ministry.

1	In April, the food regulator of Uttar Pradesh, UP FDA had ordered recall of a batch of about 2 lakh packs of the Maggi instant noodles due to higher than permitted levels of lead and food additives.
2	After Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra governments too sent samples of Maggi to the laboratory for food safety tests.
3	On May 29, taking a “serious” note of quality issues related to global giant Nestle’s famous noodle brand Maggi, the government asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to look into the matter.
4	Meanwhile, Hindi actors Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta, who endorse Maggi were served legal notice on the claims made in the advertisement.
5	On May 30, Madhuri Dixit tweeted that she met officials of Nestle and the company has reassured that "they adhere to stringent testing for quality and safety and are working with the authorities closely.”
6	The same day, the Food Safety and Drug Administration of the U.P. government filed a case against the manufacturing company, Nestle India Ltd., and five others, including the Barabanki store from where samples with excess lead were seized.
7	A complaint was filed in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barabanki, on May 30, against cine stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta for endorsing Maggi noodles. The complaint, filed by lawyer Santosh Kumar Singh, says that by endorsing Maggi the film stars have misled people.
8	The Uttarakhand Food Safety Department too collected samples of the noodle brand from the company’s plant at Pantnagar in the State.
9	The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has collected more samples of Maggi from different states for testing.
10	The Consumer Affairs Ministry Additional Secretary G Gurucharan says "brand ambassadors would be liable for action if advertisements are found to be misleading.”
11	Nestle India said it has got tested samples of the noodle brand in an external laboratory as well as in-house and the product has been found “safe to eat” with lead levels within the permissible levels for consumption. The company was, however, silent on presence of the taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG).