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India: Delhi finds Maggi noodles 'unsafe' India bans Maggi noodles in Delhi for 15 days
(about 7 hours later)
Authorities in the Indian capital, Delhi, say that samples of Maggi noodles collected from shops contain high levels of lead. Authorities in the Indian capital have banned sale of Maggi noodles for 15 days after high levels of lead were found in batches tested in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
This came weeks after food inspectors in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh recalled a batch of the noodles from shops for the same reason. The government has also ordered a country-wide testing of samples amid a growing food-safety scare.
Maggi, the two-minute instant noodles, are hugely popular in India. Several major grocery chains have already taken India's favourite noodles off shelves.
A number of states are testing the noodles. Nestle India has denied that their noodles are unsafe or unhealthy. Nestle India has denied that their noodles are unsafe or unhealthy.
Maggi noodles has been at the centre of a controversy since laboratory tests on two dozen packets in Uttar Pradesh last month found lead nearly seven times the permissible limits and excess levels of MSG. Maggi is a big seller for Nestle in India, with annual sales of about 15bn rupees ($235m; £149m).
The Delhi government says its food inspectors found lead in 10 of the 13 packets they picked up for tests. It is hugely popular with school and college students, and Nestle's "two-minute" advertising campaign stressing the ease of cooking the instant noodles have made it a household name in India.
Some of India's biggest Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, have appeared in Maggi advertisements.
But Maggi noodles has been at the centre of a controversy since laboratory tests on two dozen packets in Uttar Pradesh last month found lead nearly seven times the permissible limits and excess levels of MSG.
On Wednesday, the company's shares dropped more than 10% in early trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the Delhi government said its food inspectors had found high levels of lead in 10 of the 13 packets they picked up for tests.
"Tests in Delhi showed that 10 out of 13 samples contained lead beyond the permissible limits. Once we have all the results, Nestle India will be given an opportunity to explain," news agency AFP quoted Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry official G Gurucharan as saying.
"Samples have been tested from all across the country, we are getting the results one by one," he added.
The authorities said five samples were also found to contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), commonly used as a flavour enhancer for Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and meat.The authorities said five samples were also found to contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), commonly used as a flavour enhancer for Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and meat.
But experts say too much of it can cause headaches, chest pain and nausea. Consumed over a long period of time, it can damage the nervous system. Experts say too much MSG can cause headaches, chest pain and nausea. Consumed over a long period of time, it can damage the nervous system.
"The government will initiate action and will follow the legal course. Adulteration of any kind in food will not be tolerated," Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain was quoted as saying by the NDTV news channel. Meanwhile, authorities in the southern state of Kerala have stopped sale of Maggi noodles from more than 1,000 government-run shops following the developments in Uttar Pradesh.
Reports say the government has summoned Nestle officials and "more action would be taken after detailed results of tests are available". Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob's office said the sale of the brand had been stopped temporarily until "the dispute is resolved", the Press Trust of India reported.
Separately, authorities in Kerala have stopped sale of Maggi noodles from more than 1,000 government-run shops in the state following the developments in Uttar Pradesh. A number of other states - Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - have also ordered tests on Maggi noodles, reports say.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob's office said the sale had been stopped temporarily until "the veracity of the dispute is resolved", the Press Trust of India reported.
A number of other states - Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka - have also ordered tests on Maggi noodles, reports say.
Nestle India, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle SA, maintains it has strict safety and quality controls in place.Nestle India, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle SA, maintains it has strict safety and quality controls in place.
It said it had got samples of its noodles tested in an inhouse and an external laboratory which had found the product "safe to eat". In a recent statement, it said it had had samples of its noodles tested in an internal and an external laboratory which had found the product "safe to eat".
The company also said that it did not "add MSG to Maggi Noodles, and glutamate, if present, may come from naturally occurring sources".The company also said that it did not "add MSG to Maggi Noodles, and glutamate, if present, may come from naturally occurring sources".
"We are surprised with the content supposedly found in the sample as we monitor the lead content regularly as a part of the regulatory requirements," it said. "We are surprised with the content supposedly found in the sample as we monitor the lead content regularly as a part of the regulatory requirements," it added.