Nestle challenges UP FDA order recalling Maggi packets, says will test independently

Nestle India Ltd on Thursday challenged the UP Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) order of recalling a batch of Maggi noodles. The company said that the batch which the food inspectors had asked to recall was not available in the market owing to Nestle's standard practice of collecting stock nearing its 'Best Before' date from distributors and retailers. 

Nestle India, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle SA, in a press release said that the company has submitted samples to an an independent laboratory and will provide those results to officials. 

The release further said, "We are aware of reports that tests by the local authorities have detected Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in a sample of MAGGI Noodles ...People can be confident that MAGGI Noodle products are safe to eat."

The FDA in Uttar Pradesh had said that very high lead content was discovered in the noodles during routine tests on two dozen Maggi noodles. Local FDA officials had also said that all the packets of instant noodles tested in the state-run laboratory were contaminated and that it had asked for all packets in that batch to be removed from shops. The statement has stoked up a fervant outcry from Maggi lovers all across India. 

Nestle India said that the batch of around 2,00,000 packets of noodles it was being asked to recall were made in February last year and had already reached their "best-before" date last November. The company said that it was confident that the particular batch was taken away from the stores by Nestle due to their current practice. Nestle India also said that it had not received any further order to recall noodles currently being sold.

Maharashtra and Gujarat government have also independently sent the Maggi noodles samples for testing and the results are expected next week.

With agency inputs

Also Read: UP FDA tests more samples of Maggi after ordering recall