BENGALURU: Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader on Wednesday urged people not to buy or consume Maggi noodles until the government confirms its safety.
The government has asked Health Department officials to send samples of the all brands of noodles for lab tests after the reported detection of monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in Maggi. He said the reports are expected in two days.
He also criticised the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, for refusing to accept the sample sent by the government.
But P Ramesh Kumar, information and publicity head of CFTRI, said there are four food labs across India to which Maggi samples have been sent. “Samples from South India are referred to Kolkata to ensure there is no favouritism. Samples from Delhi, other parts of north are referred to us.”