Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
India

More Tests On Maggi, Wrong Ads Can Penalise Even Brand Endorsers

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Jun, 2015 11:47 AM
    The food safety watchdog has taken more samples of Maggi noodles across India for testing after certain harmful substances were allegedly found in a batch in quantities higher-than-permissible-limits, the government said on Monday warning that violation of standards will make even brand ambassadors liable.
     
    “We understand that consumers are concerned by reports that the authorities in Uttar Pradesh have found elevated levels of lead in a sample pack of Maggi noodles. We are fully cooperating with the authorities who are conducting further tests and we are awaiting their results,” Nestle India said in a statement.
     
    "FSSAI (Food Safety Standards Authority of India) has taken up the case. It will take action. We have already written to the FSSAI," Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said at a press conference here on Monday.
     
    He did not elaborate.
     
    Clarifying the matter, Consumer Affairs Additional Secretary G. Gurucharan said the food safety authority had taken some samples across India for testing. This was after allegations were made over "dangerous levels" of some substances in the popular snack Maggi noodles in Uttar Pradesh.
     
    "Some reports are expected today and within two-three days we will get complete reports. All parameters are being tested," Gurucharan said, adding: "If there is any violation, FSSAI will take action."
     
    The company said it has submitted samples of Maggi Noodles from almost 600 product batches to an external laboratory for independent analysis and it tested samples from almost 1,000 batches at its accredited laboratory. 
     
     
    "These samples represent around 12.5 crore packets. All the results of these internal and external tests show that lead levels are well within the limits specified by food regulations and that Maggi noodles are safe to eat. We are sharing these results with the authorities," the company stated.
     
    Asked for his comments on Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit being served notice by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Uttarakhand for endorsing Maggi noodles, Gurucharan said the brand ambassadors will also be liable if advertisements were found to be misleading.
     
    Uttar Pradesh Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Vijay Bahadur had said on May 21 that orders had been issued to Nestle to "look into the quality" of batches of Maggi noodles after some samples were reportedly found to contain higher-than-permissible levels of lead and monosodium glutamate.
     
    The samples, authorities in Lucknow said, were taken from a lot in Easy Day departmental store at Barabanki, a district adjoining the state capital, in the second week of May. But Nestle said it was confident these packs were no longer in circulation in the market.
     
    "We regularly monitor all our raw material for lead, including testing by accredited laboratories which have consistently shown levels in Maggi Noodles to be within permisible limits," the company said.
     
    "In addition, we remain committed to continuing to improve the quality of agricultural raw materials across the food chain, working with farmers, suppliers, the authorities and the food industry to ensure food safety,“ it said.
     
     
    "The quality and safety of our products are the top priorities for our company," it added.
     
    The company also sought to dispel rumours that orders had been issued to recall all batches of Maggi noodles. In an e-mail statement to IANS, it said the batch in question had already passed the "best before" date in November last year and was sure that it had automatically been recalled.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Millionaire Indian-Origin British Hotelier Ranjit Singh Power Goes Missing In Punjab

    Millionaire Indian-Origin British Hotelier Ranjit Singh Power Goes Missing In Punjab
    Punjab Police have booked a UK-based NRI for the mysterious disappearance of a British hotelier of Indian origin Ranjit Singh Power, who has been missing from the state since May 7, an official said on Wednesday.

    Millionaire Indian-Origin British Hotelier Ranjit Singh Power Goes Missing In Punjab

    India Boils As Mercury Travels North; More Than 500 Killed

    India Boils As Mercury Travels North; More Than 500 Killed
    India continued to reel under heatwave conditions on Monday with the day-temperature soaring to 47 degrees Celsius in Maharashtra's Chandrapur.

    India Boils As Mercury Travels North; More Than 500 Killed

    End Of 'Bure Din' In One Year: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    End Of 'Bure Din' In One Year: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
    Asserting that his government has delivered the promised "achche din" (good days) to the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the promise was not for those who looted the nation.

    End Of 'Bure Din' In One Year: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    One Year Of Modi Government: 25 Achievements, 25 Challenges

    One Year Of Modi Government: 25 Achievements, 25 Challenges
    The following are a set of 25 key achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the past one year, as listed by stakeholders and analysts, and an equal number of challenges that need to be addressed:

    One Year Of Modi Government: 25 Achievements, 25 Challenges

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress
    The Congress on Sunday accused Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani of playing with the country's future by implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi
    A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death in the national capital, police said on Sunday. The incident took place in Nabi Karim area in central Delhi on Saturday.

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi