TN orders tests on more noodle & pasta brands

Chennai:

Following the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) directive to all states, the Tamil Nadu food safety commissionerate on Tuesday advised its district officers to lift samples of leading brands of noodles and pastas with tastemakers and take action under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act if they are found to be violating safety standards.

With the FSSAI calling for reports by June 19, the for reports by June 19, the food safety officers will test brands such as Ruchi International (Koka Instant Noodles), C G Foods India (Wai Wai, Bhujiya), GlaxoSmitheKline Consumer Healthcare (Foodles), Nestle India (Maggi Nutri-licious Pazzta and Instant Noodles), AA Nutrition (Yummy), Indo Nissin Food (Top Ramen), and ITC (Instant Noodles). FSSAI has sought reports on general quality parameters, metal contaminants, and naturally occurring toxic substances.

“Food safety officers across the state will embark sample analysis in their respective jurisdictions immediately,“ said a senior government official. The sampling tests will take place at six locations simultaneously ­ King Institute, Guindy , and food analysis laboratories in Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Pallayamkottai and Salem. Tamil Nadu is one among the states which have banned Maggi noodles after excessive lead content was found in the samples. The maximum permissible limit for lead in food is 2.5PPM by weight. Apart from Nestle's Maggi, the state also banned manufacture, storage and sale of three other brands -Wai Wai Xpress Noodles, Reliance Select Instant Noodles and Smith and Jones Chicken Masala Noodles. The firms were also told to recall their stocks from the market with immediate effect.

While six of the 65 sam ples lifted last week revealed high level of lead in the tastemaker, the government did not take chances and ordered the popular brands to be taken off the shelves for three months from June 4. “Some samples will also be tested in referral laboratory in Kolkata in the coming days,“ another official said, recalling the communique from FSSAI on Monday to all food safety commissioners, expressing serious health concerns over the test results on Maggi and similar products.

Activists for ban on packaged food

Coimbatore: A group of activists from Coimbatore staged a protest in front of the collectorate on Tuesday demanding a ban on packaged chips. There were also demands to prohibit instant parotta, chappathi and other food items that contain benzoic acid. Food safety officers in the district said they have collected samples of Maggi, Kurkure, Lays, Kellogs Chocos and some other packaged food items a week ago and sent them for testing. “We are awaiting results,“ said designated food safety officer, R Kathiravan. He said after the Maggi episode, he received several calls and petitions from public to test various packaged food items.