The test was conducted under the direction of Supreme Court, and CFTRI has submitted analysis reports to the Supreme Court. “We have been provided with a copy of the reports. We are happy that all 29 samples tested by CFTRI are clear,” Nestle India said in a statement.
The test report said that lead levels for all samples were within permissible limits. “Every single sample was found compliant,” the company said. The Supreme Court in December last year had ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in the Mysuru based laboratory. Though the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that the test be done in Chennai, the apex court had passed the order after noting that both the Centre and Nestle India had agreed that Mysore was well equipped with all tests and being a referral notified laboratory, and sample should be sent there.
Nestle India said CFTRI has clarified that glutamic acid could be due to presence of ingredients like tomatoes, cheese, hydrolyzed plant protein,
hydrolyzed vegetable protein. It has further stated that there were no analytical methods to distinguish between naturally present glutamic acid and additive MSG. Nestle India said the CFTRI has clarified that the additive MSG was allowed to be added to selected food commodities (seasoning for Noodles is one of them) under good manufacturing practices basis proper label declarations as per ‘Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011’
In June 2015, food regulator FSSAI had banned Maggi noodles, saying the product was “unsafe and hazardous” for consumption after finding lead levels beyond permissible limits. Nestle had relaunched Maggi noodles in the market in November last year after fulfilling conditions set by the Bombay High Court which lifted the ban imposed by FSSAI.
The Maggi issue has been an overhang on the Nestle stock. In the past one year, it shares have fallen 14.50 per cent, underperforming an 8.50 per cent decline in BSE FMCG index. But with the news of CFTRI clearing the Maggi noodles the share surged to 5% to Rs 6,180 on Tuesday.