Nov 30, 2017
No ‘Ash Content’ in Maggi, Says Nestle India
FMCG major Nestle India, which is facing a penalty over alleged "ash content" in Maggi, said the company does not use it while manufacturing the popular noodles.
"We strongly reiterate that at no stage of the manufacturing process, is ash added to Maggi noodles," Nestle India spokesperson said in a statement.
The development comes after the district administration of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh slapped fine on Nestle India and its distributors after Maggi allegedly failed to pass the lab test.
The district administration imposed a fine of Rs 45 lakh on Nestle, Rs 15 lakh on three distributors and Rs 11 lakh on two sellers.
While we have not yet received the order passed by the Adjudication Officer, we understand from the information available that the relevant samples are of the year 2015 and the issue pertains to ‘Ash content’
The company said Maggi noodles are compliant with the new rules laid by food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for instant noodles, pasta and seasoning.
It is a case of applying standards basis an old advisory issued in 2015. Maggi noodles is fully compliant with the standards set by FSSAI. Maggi noodles have always been safe for consumption and will continue to be.
Maggi was banned by FSSAI in June 2015 for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible limits, forcing Nestle India to withdraw the product from the market.
Even in 2015, the Maggi trouble for Nestle had begun in Uttar Pradesh.
Following legal battles, the popular noodles brand was back in the market in November 2015.
Nestle fined Rs 62 lakh for ‘excessive ash’ in Maggi
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lab test reports found ash content in excess to what was printed on the label of samples of Maggi products
- Of the total fine of Rs 62 lakh, court levied Rs 45 lakh on Nestle India, Rs 15 lakh on distributors and Rs 2 lakh each on two sellers
SHAHJAHANPUR: The court of additional district magistrate in Shahjahanpur has imposed a total fine of Rs 62 lakh on consumer goods giant Nestle and its distributors and sellers after a laboratory report confirmed presence of ash content higher than the permissible limit in samples of Maggi noodles.
Seven samples were collected and sent for testing at a laboratory in Lucknow in 2015 and the report was received in 2016, following which seven cases were lodged at the ADM's court. Of the total fine, the court has levied Rs 45 lakh on Nestle India, Rs 15 lakh on distributors and Rs 2 lakh each on two sellers. The court order comes after alleged excessive lead content in Maggi created a major controversy in 2015, and the popular noodles brand was banned for five months in the country.
However, a Nestle India spokesperson told TOI, "We strongly reiterate that Maggi noodles are 100% safe for consumption. While we have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer, we have been informed that the samples are of 2015 and the issue pertains to 'ash content' in Noodles. This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order. In 2015, Nestle India and other companies had represented to the relevant authorities, via industry associations, to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion amongst enforcement officers and consumers. The standards have since been introduced and the product complies with these standards. We regret the confusion it may cause to consumers."
The food safety department had collected seven samples of Maggi noodles and pasta in 2015 and the samples were sent to Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Lucknow, which got them tested at its food analysis lab. The lab test reports found ash content in excess to what was printed on the label of samples of Maggi Masala noodles, Maggi Nutrilicious Pazzta and Maggi Attanoodles. The lab test report was submitted in the court of ADM.
TOP COMMENTOur system is really very fast. Sample collected in 2015, report came in 2016 and judgement in 2017. Great!A Pandey
The sample of Maggi Masala noodles from the shop of one Rinku Gupta had 2.54% of ash content, excluding salt in the Tastemaker. Ash percentage of 2.60% was found in the tastemaker of Maggi Atta noodles and Maggi Pazzta samples were found to have ash percentage of 1.2. Four samples of Maggi Masala, two samples of Maggi Pazzta and a sample of Maggi Atta noodles failed the lab test.
"Ash content in Maggi samples exceeded the prescribed limit of 1%. Maggi is consumed mostly by children and playing with the health of people by providing sub-standard products is something that cannot be pardoned under any circumstances," said ADM JK Sharma while levying the fines.
Nestle in soup over high ash content in Maggi
The Uttar Pradesh government has slapped a fine of Rs 45 lakh on Nestle India after its instant noodle brand Maggi failed lab tests which the company disputed saying it is a case of application of incorrect standards. The investor community ignored the latest controversy surrounding Nestle India as its shares ended the day with a gain of more than Rs 5 a share at Rs 7,501.65 on BSE.
In June 2015 Maggi was banned by food safety regulator FSSAI for six months for allegedly containing lead and monosodium glutamate beyond permissible limits. Nestle India had to recall 38,000 tonnes of the noodles from the market. The MSG is used as a flavour enhancer. In 2015, Nestle India and other companies had represented to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion among enforcement officers and consumers.
According to a PTI report, the district administration of Shahjahanpur has imposed a fine of Rs 45 lakh on Nestle while another Rs 15 lakh has been slapped on three distributors and Rs 11 lakh on two sellers of Maggi. District authorities had collected the samples last year in November and sent them for lab test. Now, it has been alleged that the sample had ash content above the permissible limits for human consumption. Nestle India said it would file an appeal on receiving the order.
“We strongly reiterate that Maggi noodles are 100 per cent safe for consumption. We have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer. This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order,” said a company spokesman.
“We regret the confusion it may cause to consumers,” the Nestle spokesman said.
Food Safety Tribunals Virtually ‘Non-Functional’: POS Write To High Court
Srinagar—The J&K High Court on Wednesday took strong note of lack of facilities at food safety tribunals, both at Jammu and Srinagar, and asked government to make available all the paraphernalia for their proper functioning.
The direction by the court followed perusal of a letter by the Presiding Officers of food safety tribunals, Ashok Kumar Koul (Jammu) and Mohammad Yousuf Akhoon (Srinagar), that the tribunals were virtually non-functional.
“Notwithstanding multiple directions of the court, a lot is required to be done by the concerned department to make the Tribunals functional,” the presiding officers said.
Though computers and a photocopier have been installed in the Tribunals but there is no one to use the Hardware, they said.
“An orderly and a senior assistant have been deputed to the tribunal at Jammu as an interim arrangement but it is not known as to why the sanctioned posts have not been filled so far.”
They said the government deputed senior Assistant but is not in a position to take dictation nor does he have the knowhow of typing or any administrative skill. “Almost same is the position at Srinagar also. Health and Medical Education department may be content with what they have done so far in compliance of the directions of court but the fact is that (it) has to do much more to ensure that the working of the Tribunals is smooth and hassle free,” they said.
The Registrar(s) of the Tribunal is an officer who has very important functions to discharge and his duties and powers have been defined in Rule3.3.3 of Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 but the post (s) is/are yet to be filled. They said that their belief, the post (s) was even yet to be sanctioned.
“The process of recruitment of staff of the Tribunals, which is yet to start, may take months together and till then some alternate arrangement is required to be made.”
The Presiding Officer of the tribunal at Srinagar assumed the charge more than six months before but the Tribunal is virtually nonfunctional due to deficiency of staff and infrastructure. “So the ground situation in both the Tribunals is almost identical so far as basic requirements are concerned.”
Health and Medical Education department, they said, appears to be moving at a slow pace to fulfil its statutory obligations in making the tribunals functional. “Though the department is eager to do the needful, the action is yet to be translated into a reality,” they said.
They said that while rules in unambiguously provides that the Presiding Officers of the Tribunal shall be entitled to Staff cars but same have not been provided so far, they said.
“Besides, there are so many issues which the department needs to look in to qua the functioning of the Tribunals at Jammu and Srinagar. A committed introspection is required on the part of the Officers at the helm of affairs so that corrections, where ever needed are made at the earliest in tune with the directions given by Court from time to time,” they said and underlined need for appointing a nodal officer to be nominated by the department for some time to be fastened with the responsibility of looking in to the deficiencies in the infrastructure etc of the tribunals.
“No serious step has been taken by the department so far to seek the transfer of the cases from where ever same are pending to the Appellate Tribunals at Jammu and Srinagar,” they added.
After perusal of the application, the division bench of the court took serious note of “casual approach” of government and directed it to inform as to what steps have been taken for providing all facilities to presiding officer by next date of hearing in the public interest litigation.
Else, the court directed that commissioner health & medical education department shall remain present on next date of hearing on December 14.
The court also observed that pure food was basic fundamental right to everyone and “the government is making mockery of all this.”
Court fines Rs 40,000 to two microbrewery staffers
A local court has fined a general manager and a brew master of a microbrewery Rs 40,000 for running the business and selling food articles without a licence from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The matter dates back to February 6, 2016, when on the complaint of food safety officer Bharat Kanojia, brewmaster of Brew Estate Manmohan Singh and general manager Narinder Kumar were challaned under Sections 26 (2) (iii), 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
It was stated that the food and safety department conducted inspection of Brew Estate, Sector 26, on February 6, 2016, and found it selling food articles like dal, rice, chapati, pasta and pizza without FSSAI licence.
The defence counsel argued that the case had been falsely foisted upon the accused as no raid had taken place. It was also argued that there was exemption from obtaining licence for running food business till August 4, 2016, and the accused had already applied for one with the appropriate authority.
The court order stated, "The convicts are to undergo imprisonment till rising of the court and pay fine of 20,000 each for the offence punishable under Section 63 of the act."
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India urges systematic recall of food products
NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a set of guidelines regarding the recall of unsafe food products from the market, in a bid to ensure that a proper system is in place.
Reports suggest that the food safety regulator stated that the guidelines have been issued to help food business operators frame a proper recall plan and implement them when the situation demands.
Further, the regulatory body has also called for greater scrutiny of food products, so as to avoid frequent situations of recall of their products.
According to FSSAI, food recalls are essential to remove or correct marketed food products and their labelling that violate the laws administered by the regulatory authority, as the circulation of such products can cause health hazards to those that consume it.
The recovered product, the chamber claims, must be stored in an area which is separated from any other food product. Companies must also maintain records of the amount of recovered product and the batch codes of the product recovered.
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