After Maggi, Patanjali Atta Noodles found “substandard”

MEERUT: After alleged adulterants were found in Maggi noodles, leading to the brand being withdrawn by its maker, a team of Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) based in Meerut has now found a Patanjali Atta Noodles sample "sub-standard", with ash content in the tastemaker exceeding the prescribed limits by nearly three times, even higher than Maggi or Yippee samples.

The tests were carried out on samples of Patanjali Noodles, Maggi and Yippee collected from Vishal Mega Mart outlet in Meerut on February 5, 2016, the report of which reached came out on Saturday. In all the three samples, ash content found is invariably high. The samples were sent to the Lucknow-based testing laboratory.

The permissible limit for ash content according to law is 1%, but all the three samples failed the test and were found "substandard" for consumption.

Giving details about the report JP Singh, chief food safety officer said, "The ash content in the tastemaker of Patanjali Atta Noodles was found to be 2.69%, which is the highest among all three. The ash content in the tastemaker of Maggi Masala Noodles and Sunfeast Yippee Noodles Classic Masala was found to be 1.63% and 2.1% respectively. Going by the report, the most harmful for consumption is Patanjali, followed by Sunfeast Yippee and then Maggi."

Asked as to what will be the procedure adopted after the high levels of ash content found in the tastemakers, Singh said, "Now, these brands can challenge our report in a month's time, following which out of the four-part sample that we collect, the second sample of the noodles will be sent to the referral laboratory in Kolkata. But if they do not challenge our decision, we will file a case against each one of them."

When TOI contacted Ram Bharat, brother of Baba Ramdev and head of the food and herbal wing of Patanjali, he said, "I don't have any such report with me as of now. I will be able to comment on the mAtter only when I have the report in front of me."