The move follows a directive of apex food regulator – the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – asking all state FDAs to test all noodles and related products.
The fate of all brands of noodles, pasta and macaroni will be decided in a week's time when the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Maharashtra gets reports on these products. In the wake of the Maggi noodle controversy, the FDA had sent samples of similar products to different laboratories for testing.
In the past 15 days, the FDA has taken the help of private labs, which are accredited to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), to test the samples. Not just monosodium glutamate, sources said, the agency is is looking at the levels of ten more components.
The move follows a directive of apex food regulator – the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – asking all state FDAs to test all noodles and related products.
"We will get the reports in a week's time and will send them to FSSAI. Action will be taken based on the findings. Apart from testing the samples in our own labs, we are also taking the help of NABL-recognised private laboratories," said FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble.
The products under the scanner are CG Foods India Pvt Ltd's three variants of Wai Wai noodles, Ruchi International's Koka Instant Noodles, ITC Ltd's three variants of Sunfeast Yippee noodles, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd's 10 variants of Foodles, Indo Nissin Food Ltd's Top Ramen Atta Masala and AA Nutrition Ltd's Yummy Chicken and vegetable noodles. Nestle India Ltd's macaroni and penne pasta offerings too are under observation.
So far, the FDA has conducted tests including physical examination for mould, live and dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination (hair, excreta), and fungus visible to the naked eye. Tests to check added natural colours and heavy metals (lead, copper, arsenic, mercury, cadmium and zinc) will also be done.
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