Just want food companies to follow law, FSSAI says

NEW DELHI: Even as the Maggi episode has led to a sense of scare among consumers as well as companies selling packaged food products, regulatory officials say the stringent measures adopted by it are only to ensure that food companies comply with the law. 

"There is no reason to worry. The exercise is merely to ensure that every food item that is sold in the country is of good quality and is complying with the law of the land," said a senior official of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 

Asked about the increase the frequency of sampling and surveillance, especially in the case of macaroni, instant noodles etc, the official said the exercise was undertaken to reiterate that Nestle has not been singled out and to ensure that all products sold in the market are in compliance. 

Following the Maggi recall, FSSAI had directed all state food regulators to collect samples of all instant noodles, macaroni and pasta and do extensive testing. While FSSAI is yet to receive the test reports, the official said sampling is a routine process and only those products which are not complying with the prescribed standards will face the consequences as per the norms. 

This assumes significance in the wake of recent comments by food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal who slammed the FSSAI last week saying the regulator has created an environment of fear. "The action taken by FSSAI is discouraging innovation in the food processing sector, which is vital for the country's food security. A lot needs to be done as the FSSAI has created an environment of fear in the industry. It needs to streamline its regulations as its steps are stopping innovation in the processing sector," Badal had said while addressing an industry conference. 

However, the regulator says that is "not the intention". "To create fear is not the intention. We work in favour of the consumers. We have acted based on the reports we received from states. Most states reported problem with Maggi noodles. So, we had to act in public interest. In fact, Nestle recalled the product before we issued orders," the official said. 

He said Nestle can take corrective actions to address the concerns and meet the requirements under the law to bring Maggi back into the market. 

"As long as approval for Maggi is not withdrawn, it can make a come back," he said. 

Maggi instant noodles, Nestle's popular 2-minute snack, was recalled from the Indian market after regulatory agencies found the product containing excess of lead and added monosodium glutamate (MSG).