News Maggi banned due to high quantities of MSG and lead. Update - Ban Lifted

Technoglitch

Core Member
Bolstered by the Bombay High Court order overturning ban on Maggi, Nestle India plans to bring back the popular instant noodles back in the market by end of this year subject to certain clearances.

The company, which has taken a hit of Rs. 450 crore, including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned because of alleged excessive lead content, says it will continue with the existing formula of the product and not change the ingredients.

On changing ingredients

Asked whether the recent problems would make the company change ingredients of the instant noodles, Mr. Narayanan replied in the negative saying “what has worked for 30 years” must work in future too, although the company would continue to work on innovation and add more variants in future.

Acknowledging that the ban has ‘dented’ the company, he said the company has to win back consumer confidence and will “spend aggressively” on rebuilding the brand from a “zero” level through customer engagement activities and advertisements.

When asked if the company would consider seeking damages from food regulators on the back of Bombay High Court judgement, he remained non-committal said the company’s focus would be to bring back Maggi as soon as possible, look ahead and move on while working together with authorities. The Consumer Affairs Ministry has filed a class action suit against Nestle India seeking about Rs. 640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labeling and misleading advertisements.

It was for the first time that the ministry dragged a company to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) using a provision in the nearly three-decade-old Consumer Protection Act.

MSG as an ingredient

He said a lot of consumers at some stage had started asking the question about monosodium glutamate (MSG) as to whether it is an added chemical or does it occur naturally.

“We explained that glutamic acid naturally exists in a lot of food products. We don’t add it as a chemical or additive,” he said.

The company had removed ‘no added MSG’ label from its packs when the controversy broke out in June.

On allegations of difference in Maggi’s export and domestic consumption quality, Mr. Narayanan said: “Difference in exported product and Indian product is only of packaging. It is very difficult to export (Maggi meant for consumption in India) as the packaging is different in every country.”

Trying to bring back Maggi by end of this year: Nestle India - The Hindu
 

Technoglitch

Core Member
The apex consumer court on Thursday for the first time ordered tests on 13 samples of Maggi noodles from nine batches to determine lead and "MSG stock glutamate" content. The decision was taken by a bench of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) here. The NCDRC said the Maggi samples should be sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore in Karnataka after verifying the seal and samples in the court's presence. "The 13 out of 25 total samples be sent to CFTRI in Mysore for analysis to determine the quantity of lead and 'Monosodium glutamate (MSG) stock glutamate' in the aforesaid samples," the bench said. "All the samples will be packed in a box by a special magistrate, duly signed and sealed by him:

Now top consumer court orders tests on Maggi - News
 

Music Fan

EntMnt Contributor
So maggi returning
Hope Nestlé will not increase its cost.
Like previous cost, 70 grams for Rs.10
Otherwise, People may not purchase it
 
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