On Friday, the Central food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) orders Nestle to recall nine variants of Maggi instant noodles from market.
FSSAI test results finds nine variants of Maggi noodles 'unsafe and hazardous' for human consumption.
It has asked Nestle to stop their production, import and sale with immediate effect.
FSSAI also said Nestle launched 'Maggi Oats Masala Noodles' without product approval and without undertaking risk, safety assessment; orders recall of product.
It added that Nestle violated labelling regulations on taste enhancer 'MSG', asks company to submit compliance report on its orders within 3 days.
On Friday, the Global CEO of Nestle, Paul Bulcke addressed media where he said, "Maggi noodles have been trusted in India for over 30 years. Maggi is safe for consumption, we have same quality standards everywhere in world. This controversy has led to consumers losing trust in us."
He further added, "We do not put MSG in our products. With our consumers in mind, we shall work with the authorities to clear this situation out. Product quality and safety is of paramount priority to us. We don't have data from any of the third party tests conducted on Maggi. I am very confident that we will be back as soon as possible. That is our prime objective."
Five states – Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand – have banned the sale of Maggi after concerns were raised over the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead beyond permissible levels in the instant noodles.
The Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand governments banned the sale for three months, while in Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, the ban will be effective for one month. Telangana government too banned Maggi on Friday in the state even before the test results were out.
The state governments also ordered Nestle India to immediately withdraw the stocks.
Meanwhile, Delhi has banned the product for 15 days.
Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday had said that the government has decided to file a complaint regarding Maggi issue with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to further investigate the matter as the FSSAI reports might take some time to come.
A case was lodged earlier against Nestle India by the UP food regulator FSDA in a local court at Bara banki in Uttar Pradesh over safety standards of its Maggi, while actors Amitabh Bachhan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta were also separately dragged to court for promoting the 'two-minute' noodles brand.
