Karnataka Government Sends Random Samples Of Maggi Noodles For Safety Testing

In the wake of Nestle’s Maggi noodles allegedly failing to conform to food safety norms, the Karnataka government sent random samples of the product to a state-run lab in Mysore, India for testing its contents. Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said, "I have directed my officials to randomly lift packets of Maggi noodles from retail shops, supermarkets, malls and its manufacturing units across the state for testing at CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) to verify if food safety norms are violated." The health department has also sent a few samples of Maggi to a private lab in Bengaluru to test if lead content in the noodles was in excess or within the safety limits.

"We are expecting test results from the labs in a day or two. Till then, we advise people to avoid buying or consuming them (Maggi noodles) though we have not imposed any ban on its sale in the state," said Khader.

Nestle came under scanner after the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration directed it to withdraw a batch of noodles, manufactured in February 2014 and found to have taste enhancer (monosodium glutamate) in excess and high levels of lead.

"The central government has also asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSI) to test samples of Maggi noodles from all states," added Khader.

Source-Medindia