New Delhi: In a huge big setback to Nestle India, the Delhi government on Wednesday banned on the sale of Maggi noodles in the national capital and asked the company to withdraw all the stock within 15 day.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that Nestle India has been asked to withdraw Maggi for the time being and a fresh stock of noodles will be tested after which a decision will be taken.
He also said government will test all other brands of noodles available in the city and will take action based on the reports. "Government has banned Maggi noodles for 15 days. We have asked Nestle India to withdraw Maggi stocks within 15 days. We will carry out lab testing of fresh stocks and a decision will be taken accordingly thereafter," Jain said.
The decision came nearly two hours after several top Nestle India officials explained to him their position on the issue. Jain said government will file a case against Nestle India in court as per provisions of the Food Adulteration Act and will "not compromise" on issues relating to health safety.
On Tuesday, the Delhi government had said that it found samples of Maggi noodles "unsafe" for consumption as it contained lead beyond the permissible level in Maggi masala (tastemaker).
According to officials, a total of 13 samples of masala (tastemaker) were lifted by authorities from various areas of the city last week of which 10 were found unsafe. Five samples of masala were also having monosodium glutamate without proper label declaration which is an offence under the category of misbranding, they said.
Meanwhile, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan also assured public to take action against Maggi. “We will take action once the test results are in, samples are being tested and it’s a very serious matter," the Minister said.
“A complaint has been filed and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) will take appropriate action. This is a serious issue and we are looking into this matter," he said.
Earlier in the day, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) cracked the whip and asked all states to test all variants of Maggi Noodles.
FSSAI has given states 48 hours to submit their test reports. As per the Food Standard and Safety Act, action can be taken against Maggi for misbranding and selling sub-standard food. Nestle says it is cooperating with authorities.
A number of states including Kerala and Haryana have initiated steps on the Maggi issue.
The probe into alleged lapses of food safety standards has already been expanded to test Maggi noodle samples from across the country following detection of monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in the noodles.
However, Nestle India claimed it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as in-house and that the product was found "safe to eat".
(With inputs from PTI)
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