The Uttar Pradesh Food and Drug Administration seems to have opened a can of worms for Maggi noodles.
After the department confirmed that Maggi has higher levels of lead and MSG than permitted, Nestle has run into trouble in more states than one.
Of course, Nestle is constantly posting updates on social media saying that the product has not been recalled and that it is safe for consumption. Watch this video for a roundup of the row.
Nevertheless, here’s what state governments have decided to do post the discovery.
Delhi
On Wednesday, the Delhi government banned the sale of Maggi noodles for 15 days.
10 out of 13 samples tested for lead content and were found to have amounts higher than permissible limits.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain declared that the ban has been placed to clear existing stock.
Haryana
The Health Department officials started lifting samples of Maggi noodles randomly from across the state for laboratory testing.
Haryana’s Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr D P Lochan said, necessary directions have been issued to health officials in all the districts.
Maharashtra
On Wednesday, the state government said there have been no negative reports about the samples tested so far.
“We have taken some samples but we have not found any negative reports. I am in constant touch with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Harshadeep Kamble,” Food and Civil Supplies minister Girish Bapat said.
Their production is batch wise and to do a detailed analysis of their product, we need to test samples from different batches, the work of which is going on. A problem can be identified once more such samples from other batches are tested.
— Girish Bapat, Food and Civil Supplies Minister
Telangana
The samples of Maggi instant noodles are being tested at a lab as part of the nationwide exercise.
“We have taken 22 samples from our state. We have sent them for screening. Actual reporting time is two weeks maximum,” said K Amarender Reddy, Director of Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Telangana.
The samples were lifted on Monday last, he said.
Odisha
Odisha government on Wednesday said it has sent samples of Maggi noodles to an accredited laboratory in Pune for testing. The state laboratory is no equipped to check for amounts of lead.
The state government has sent 25 samples of Maggi noodles from 14 different places to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) accredited Central Food Laboratory at Pune for test.
— Arati Ahuja, State Health and Family Welfare Secretary
Goa
The samples of Maggi in Goa have not shown any traces of the flavour enhancer MSG and lead, a senior official said.
The (results of) tests for monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead (have) come negative. The samples were produced (for testing) in Goa and in Punjab facility.
— Jyoti Sardesai, Deputy Director of Goa FDA
She said the samples were taken from the market and also from the North Goa-based Nestle factory.
West Bengal
The Maggi controversy found mention in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday.
During the calling attention session, SUCI member Tarun Naskar said that the sale of Maggi should be suspended in the state following reports that it was not safe for consumption.
Punjab
Punjab joined the states which have ordered laboratory testing of Maggi noodles samples following allegations of lapses in food safety standards.
“We have taken almost 60 samples of Maggi noodles collected from various parts of the state for laboratory testing,” said Punjab Heath and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani.
“If any lapse is found as per food safety standards, then appropriate action will be taken in this regard,” said Jayani, who is a BJP MLA.
Tamil Nadu
The state Food Safety Department has started collecting samples and sending them to laboratories across the state, department officials said.
Last week, a case had been lodged against Nestle India by state food regulator FSDA in a local court at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh over safety standards of its Maggi, while actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have also been dragged into it for promoting the ‘two-minute’ noodles brand.
(With inputs from the PTI)
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