States, UTs told to test all instant noodles, pasta brands

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory to the Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and Union Territories (UTs) on Monday to draw samples of a variety of instant noodles, pastas and macaroni and their tastemakers for which product approvals have been granted by the regulatory authority.

The advisory outlined the various brands and their variants and the companies which produce these products. The companies include GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd (Foodles), Indo Nissin Food Ltd (Top Ramen), ITC Ltd (Yippee), Ruchi International (Koka), AA Nutrition (Yummy), and Nestle India (all Maggi variants — including four variants of Maggi Nutrilicious Pazzta).

Reports of the tests’ outcomes are required to be sent to the FSSAI by June 19, as per the advisory signed by FSSAI CEO YS Malik. BusinessLine had reported last week that the body would take a call with regard to the testing of other brands this week.

“Various test results on Maggi and similar products have raised serious health concerns… it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by FSSAI… these samples should be sent to authorised labs for testing as per the testing parameters,” the advisory said.

When contacted a spokesperson for GSK Consumer Healthcare India said, “GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare will provide all support to the authorities and ensure that we remain in complete compliance with the law.”

GP Sah, CEO, CG Foods, had on June 7 told BusinessLine that the company is open for any tests by the regulatory authorities and that the company meets all the standards listed by the FSSAI.

A spokesperson at ITC said, “We understand from media reports that FSSAI has asked food products from different companies to be tested in light of the current developments. All ITC products are manufactured in state of the art, world-class facilities complying with strict quality and hygiene norms.” Further, stringent tests are conducted for the company’s food products at ITC’s NABL accredited Life Sciences & Technology Centre as well as at external laboratories which are FSSAI approved and NABL accredited, the spokesperson said.States have been asked to take action as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act), 2006, and other applicable laws including those under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), if food items are found to not conform to applicable standards.

Kerala told to take a standPTI adds: The Kerala High Court today asked the State Government to inform it of its stand regarding imposing a ban on Maggi noodles in the Sate.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Saffique directed the government to file an affidavit informing them of their stand on the issue while considering a petition by one Thampi Subrahmanian from Kochi.

Subrahmanian contended that several states had banned Maggi noodles, but the food product was easily available in Kerala markets yesterday also.

Action against actors sought

An activist has moved a court in Mumbai seeking registration of a case against food giant Nestle, its directors and actors who endorsed Maggi noodles.

In a complaint filed in the magistrate’s court in suburban Andheri today, social activist Nicholes Almeida sought action against them under relevant sections of IPC for allegedly manufacturing and marketing a noxious food item.

COMMENT NOW