With the central food safety regulator ordering withdrawal of nine approved variants of Maggi, Health ministry on Friday said it is of the “confirmed” opinion that the product failed to adhere to safety norms and assured that no compromise will be done on food safety.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said that his Ministry had received the reports from all the states and after assessing them it has come to the conclusion that the nine variants of Maggi should be recalled.
“We have come to the conclusion that the food safety and standards have not been adhered by Nestle company and Maggi products and that is why we have given instructions that all nine products (variants) should be recalled from the market,” Mr. Nadda said.
Asked about Nestle CEO’s statement that Maggi was safe, Mr. Nadda said that his ministry has gone through the reports which every state has sent to it and then reached the conclusion.
“We have got the reports from every state now and we are of the confirmed opinion that the Maggi product was not following the ingredients and the safety measures which were required and that is why we have come to this conclusion that the product should be recalled from the market,” he said.
Coming down heavily on Swiss giant Nestle, the central food safety regulator FSSAI has earlier ordered recall of all nine approved variants of Maggi instant noodles from the market, terming them “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also said that Nestle launched ‘Maggi Oats Masala Noodles’ without approval and ordered its recall, saying the company did not undertake risk and safety assessment for the product.
Mr. Nadda asserted that Nestle had also not followed the regulations of labelling while another of its variant, Maggi masala oats noodles tastemaker, was in the market without prior approval of the government which is why it too have been ordered to be recalled.
“I would like to assure people of our country that no compromise will be done as far as the food safety and security is concerned. All measures will be taken and all levels of security and safety of food will be adhered to,” Mr. Nadda said.
Unfazed by mounting trouble over the alleged presence of lead and MSG in Maggi noodles, Nestle on Friday said the product is safe but is withdrawing it from the Indian market as “unfounded reasons” have created “confusion” affecting consumer trust.
After Delhi, four more states — Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttarakhand — have banned the sale of Maggi noodles, as the popular instant snack came under mounting scrutiny over food safety concerns.
