Govt. files complaint against Maggi with consumer forum.
By Dileep Thekkethil
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BENGALURU: Nestle India, the manufacturers of Maggi, has no respite as the government on Monday reached out to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) seeking a damage of Rs. 640 crores ($99 million) after the food safety authority of India found harmful substances in one of the country’s most popular instant food product.
Nestle India has not acknowledged the news regarding the latest move of the government saying that they are yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed with the consumer forum.
The government had earlier imposed a ban on Maggi after a court observed that the Swiss company flouted the food safety norms of the country.
The incidents that lead to the banning unfolded in June when the food safety authorities found unsafe and hazardous substances in the popular one-minute noodles. Nestle India was also accused of violating the labelling rules by stating that the Noodles is free from monosodium glutamate MSG, which means they have not used the taste enhancer.
Centre set to seek Rs 426 cr in damages from Nestle.
Of which 400 cr only for misleading that maggi noodles can be made in 2 minutes ;)— Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) August 11, 2015
Stop frivolous suit plan against @NestleIndia please @PMOIndia V look stupid enuf with so many global regulators clearing #Maggi.
— Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) August 11, 2015
The early samples of Maggi Noodles collected by the food safety authorities had 2.5ppm of harmful lead content in addition to MSG, which can cause cancer if used for a prolonged period.
The central food safety authority of India ordered for the withdrawal of 9 variants of Maggi Noodles on June after the health ministry confirmed that Nestle has flouted safety guidelines.
Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preeti Zinta, who were brand ambassadors of Maggi Noodles over the past few years, are facing legal action for propagating false statements regarding the noodles.
According to reports, Maggi noodles worth Rs. 320 crore was used as fuel in cement factories approved by the government.
Despite the ban, the Nestle India website says Maggi is safe for consumption. It reads, “in addition to our regular testing of the finished product and raw materials, we have carried out extensive tests of our MAGGI Noodles in India. To date, Nestlé India has tested more than 2,700 product samples of MAGGI Noodles, including 1,100 samples at independent accredited labs in India and abroad. These tests represent more than 165 million or 16.5 Crore packets of noodles in total.”
They add “These tests found that levels of lead in the products were within the food safety limits specified by the Indian authorities, which is why we are saying the products are safe for consumption.”
Meanwhile, those households with unused Maggi packets can ask for a return by visiting the official website of Maggi.