The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today ordered testing 13 samples of Nestle India Ltd’s Maggi noodles at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru to determine if they contained any lead and monosodium glutamate.
The 13 samples are from seven separate batches. The court asked the central laboratory to complete the test within four weeks “if possible”.
The commission’s order came after Nestle today agreed for testing of its Maggi noodles’ samples only in a government-accredited laboratory.
Nestle India Ltd told the court that permissible amount of natural monosodium glutamate will be found in the samples but there is no “added MSG” in its products.
The court added that the lab will test both the noodles as well as the taste-maker inside the packet separately.
The court was hearing a class action suit filed by the Centre, seeking damages worth ₹640 crore, after tests conducted by some States found more-than-acceptable levels of lead in Maggi noodles. Some States also alleged mislabelling of monosodium glutamate on the packets.
The government had brought 25 samples of Maggi products, out of which only 13 will be sent to the Mysuru lab. Nestle said rest of the samples were either damaged or duplicate.