RAIPUR: Amid row over alleged lapses in food safety standards of instant noodles Maggi, Chhattisgarh food and drugs administration said samples tested so far have been found safe to eat with lead levels within permissible levels for consumption. Reports were out on Saturday.
Food and drugs administration food analyst SS Tomar said, "Nearly 17 samples collected from different parts of state on June 4, were tested at our laboratory and level of lead content is found to be between 0.022 ppm and 0.239 ppm (parts per million). While dangerous maximum level is 2.5 ppm, Maggi noodles in Chhattisgarh have been found to be safe for consumption."
Interestingly, Maggi noodles in Chhattisgarh is mainly supplied from factories of Goa, and on June 3, Goa government had declared Maggi safe for consumption with both MSG (monosodium glutamate) and lead levels within limits, Tomar added.
"Lead is a metal found in water and its content may vary with water in different places. There may be more lead content in water in Uttar Pradesh and less in Goa, which is why Maggi noodles manufactured at Goa had less lead content and those manufactured in UP had more. It should be researched further," food analyst said.
According to senior officials in food and drugs department, though Chhattisgarh government had not imposed ban on sale of Maggi noodles, Nestle had withdrawn packets from all departmental stores and retail outlets soon after order by Central Government.
While packets of Maggi noodles are not being sold in markets in state, indirect ban on sale would continue till further order from Centre.
Meanwhile, Tomar said that following Maggi row, noodles and pasta of other companies were also being collected and sampled for tests in laboratories as safety measure.
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