Nestlé's Maggi Noodle Makes A Happy Return To Indian Shelves This Diwali After Successful Testing

Maggi Noodles - the instant Chinese fare created by Nestle and loved the world over especially in India, Singapore and Malaysia and other parts of the globe was beset by a scandalous allegation that their Maggi Noodles in India contained MSG with lead levels going beyond permitted limits.

Nestle India fought back and is on the way to recovery and putting its instant noodle packages back on the shelves in India.

Early this year - according to Nestle Online Media - two government laboratories - one in Uttar Pradesh and the other in Kolkata- found MSG and as well as levels of lead above the permissible limits in the samples tested.

On the issue of "lead" Nestle India carried out tests in its own laboratories and also by independent laboratories which showed lead levels within permissible limits.

On the issue of MSG Nestle acknowledged that the product has "glutamate" in its onion powder, wheat flour etc which can test positive in a test for MSG although it does not add MSG to Maggi Noodles.
Nestle India then agreed to remove the " No added MSG" claim on the package. This created a confusion amongst consumers leading Nestle India to temporarily stop the sale of the noodles. On 5thJune 2015 the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a ban on Maggi Noodles amongst other orders.

Nestle India complied and recalled the banned items and destroyed 35000 tons of Maggi Noodles. But the story didn't end there. On 11 June 2015 Nestle retaliated with a petition asking for judicial review of the order made by FSSAI on 5th June 2015 at the Bombay High Court and the High Court reversed the ban and consequential orders of the FSSAI.

The Bombay High Court also ruled that Nestle India should conduct fresh tests in accredited laboratories out of the available samples and once the tests are in favour of Nestle it can manufacture the product, which must undergo tests for lead before sale is resumed.

Nestle in its statement confirmed that Nestle India has begun manufacturing Maggi Noodles and submitted for fresh tests to reconfirm they are safe to be consumed. The statement added all three NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court have found samples of the newly manufactured Maggi Noodles to be safe for consumption.

Following compliance with the court order, Nestle India yesterday issued a statement in conjunction with the celebration of Diwali.

It said, "We are delighted to announce that your beloved MAGGI Noodles is back. The roll out has begun today. It has been a challenging period for the Nestlé Organisation and therefore, there is a feeling of satisfaction at bringing back MAGGI Noodles to the market".