Reports Say Govt Lab Found MSG Content In Maggi To Be On The 'Higher Side'
The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that one report of a test on Maggi noodles by Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute showed that monosodium glutamate (MSG) higher than permitted
Even after making a remarkable comeback to the market, Maggi's troubles seem far from over.
The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that one report of a test on Maggi noodles by the government research institute has shown that the lead content was within permissible limits but monosodium glutamate (MSG) was on the higher side.
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Senior counsel Vibha Datta Makhija, appearing for the central government, told the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh that the reports by the Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute were directly sent to the apex court in a sealed cover but one of the reports seen by her had this conclusion.
In response, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for manufacturers Nestle India Ltd, told the court that that MSG occurs naturally in Maggi and was not an added flavour and added that government notification has accepted Nestle's position that its presence could not be determined by any laboratory tests.
The court directed that the copies of the test report be given to all the parties appearing before the court in the matter within three days as it adjourned the hearing to July 19.
The apex court by its January 13, 2016 order, while perusing the tests reports by the institute, had asked it to tell it whether the results of the test report relating to lead and glutamic acid, were within permissible parameters or not.
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The institute, the court had said, "shall also clarify whether the test relating to glutamic acid includes the test pertaining to monosodium glutamate".
The CFTRI had conducted tests on Maggi samples in pursuance to the October 15 directions of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), and the December 16 direction of the apex court, modifying the NCDRC's December 9-10 order asking a Chennai-based lab to test the samples.
Nestle India had moved the apex court challenging the NCDRC order, contending that once NCDRC had sent Maggi samples for testing by CFTRI by its October 15 order, then there was no necessity of further testing by the Chennai lab.
The central government had moved the apex court against August 13, 2015 Bombay High Court order which had held that the labs that tested Nestle's Maggi noodles were not accredited by the NABL, thus their findings could not be relied upon.
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Relying on the high court order, Nestle India has assailed the NCDRC order holding that if a laboratory in terms of section 2(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is recognised by the central or the state government or has been established under the law and maintained, financed or aided by the central or state government, then it need not necessarily be accredited by the NABL or notified by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India.
The government filed, before the NCDRC, a class action suit against Nestle India, seeking about Rs.640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements.
The hearing on the suit is on hold in the wake of ongoing hearing by the apex court.
When contacted, Nestle India gave the following statement:
The presence of glutamic acid comes from natural ingredients used in MAGGI Noodles. We do not add MSG as an additive. While we await the CFTRI reports, we strongly re-iterate that MAGGI Noodles has always been safe for consumption. This has been demonstrated by tests carried out in independent accredited laboratories, our own accredited laboratories and by several other national food authorities.
We have built our reputation around the world and in India by providing products that meet the highest food quality and safety standards. Nestl¨¦ has been in India for 103 years and MAGGI Noodles has been a trusted product in the country for 33 years.
We appreciate the positive consumer response to the return of MAGGI Noodles to the market and are working to promptly reintroduce more variants. We remain fully committed to working with the authorities to resolve the situation and uphold high quality standards in India.
