Six other noodle brands clear lead test

THE SAMPLES HAVE GLUTAMIC ACID RANGING BETWEEN 0.002 AND 0.0015 PPM

After Maggi, samples of other brands of instant noodles too have cleared the lead and arsenic tests in the State. However, the tests have also revealed the presence of glutamic acid ranging between 0.002 and 0.0015 ppm in the samples, according to food safety officials.

Following directions from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), State food safety officials had sent 13 samples of six brands of instant noodles — Sunfeast, Top Ramen, 1 to 3, Surya, Nissin, and Yippie — for tests. The FSSAI had directed the State to submit the reports by June 20.

State FSSAI Deputy Director H.S. Shivakumar said that as the Food Safety and Standards Act did not specify the permissible limits for glutamic acid in food samples, the FSSAI would have to take the final call on what to infer from the results. “The samples have cleared tests for all other parameters. We are not concerned about glutamic acid as it is not on the list of parameters,” he said.

Reply on Maggi awaited

The Health Department had sent the test reports of Maggi samples, which had also shown the presence of 0.053 ppm of glutamic acid, to the FSSAI for clarification. “We are still awaiting the reply,” the official said.

He said samples of the other brands were tested at the FSSAI-identified TUV SUD India Private Ltd., which is NABL accredited. He said there was no need for the samples to be tested again as the controversy was only about Maggi noodles.

The temporary ban imposed on the instant noodles brand in the State following the FSAAI directions would continue till further advice, he said.