The Bombay High Court today set aside the ban order subject to fresh tests being satisfactory
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will take a decision on whether to move Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order on the Maggi case after it has gone through the full verdict. An FSSAI official told Business Standard, "We are yet to receive a copy of the order. We can talk about it once we have read it." Sources said a decision was expected later in the evening.
The FSSAI had on June 5 had ordered recall of Nestle India’s Maggi noodles from all over the country and had asked the company to stop manufacturing the product, calling it "hazardous" for human consumption . Nestle Indiahad moved Bombay High Court against the order. On Thursday, the court set aside the oder, but asked the Swiss food major to get its noodle samples tested at three FSSAI accredited labs—Hyderabad, Mohali and Jaipur.
While ministers and industry had started speaking out against the FSSAI order in the recent past, consumer affairs ministry sued Nestle India at the consumer court seeking damages worth Rs 640 crore under various provisions.
FSSAI CEO Yudhvir Singh Malik had in a recent interview told this newspaper that he was more worried about children consuming noodles with lead in it, rather than about anything else. ‘’If Im worried about my children, I should be worried about others’ children too.’’
FSSAI order was based on tests of Maggi noodles samples by about half a dozen state laboratories, showing excessive lead and presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG). The issue came into prominence recently when Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) got the samples tested at the renowned CFTRI (Centre for Food Technology Research Institute) at Mysuru, which showed that the product was in compliance with standards set by FSSAI.
On 30.4.2011, it was requested to Cabinet Secretary to take up the Health Ministry to fix the standards for Instant Noodles on the basis of report published in Insight Magazine. The request was made in the interest of children. Copy of my letter is as under:
ReplyDeleteTo
The Cabinet Secretary
PMO office
North Block
New Delhi -110001
Sub:- To prescribe Science Based Standards for Instant
Noodles having business of Rs. 1300/ -crore -reg.
Sir,
I want to draw your kind attention that:
Science based standards are not prescribed for Instant Noodles under PFA Act, 1954 or in Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. In the country the business of Instant Noodles is around Rs.1300/ crore and are consumed basically by the children. Hence there is urgent need to prescribe them. (Copy of the report is enclosed for ready reference)
In this connection it was requested to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi from time to time by the various states agencies. It is also imported from Bangladesh into our country.
Being citizen it is my moral duty to bring to your kind notice.
Hence, you are requested to take up the matter with MOHFW before it becomes Health Hazards to the Children.
30.4.2011
Dr. SATYA PRAKASH
Former Director
Central Food laboratory, Kolkata
R/o KD-91 Kavi Nagar
Ghaziabad -201002
9810636846