Nestle owned maggi instant noodles - advertised as 2 Minute Noodles since 1987 - which enjoyed a market share of 60 per cent is suddenly in the news for all the wrong reasons. It all began with the discovery that maggi contained traces of lead and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in excess. It was found, by the Food Safety Regulators in Uttar Pradesh, that samples of maggi noodles contained excess MSG. When Nestle contested the finding, further tests were conducted in one of the best laboratories in Kolkata. The findings revealed that Maggi contained 17 Parts Per Million (PPM) of lead as against the permissible limit of 0.01 PPM. Following the discovery, it was banned in Delhi and stopped in Kerala government's retail outlets. Other States are likely to follow suit. And bollywood stars, who endorsed the product, have been booked.
How does consuming lead affect the body?
It damages the nervous system and could cause brain disorders. And MSG, according to neurosurgeon Dr Russel Blaylock, is excitotoxin that overexcites the cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees -- and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and more.
Odisha government said it has sent samples of Maggi to an accredited laboratory in Pune for testing. Read more
Samples of the fast food in Goa have not shown any traces of the flavour enhancer MSG and lead, a senior official said. Read more
Delhi government deliberated on the issue with Nestle India, the manufacturer of the instant noodles. Read more
Maharashtra government said there have been no negative reports about the samples tested so far. Read more
Samples of Maggi noodles tested in the national capital were found unsafe, the Delhi government announced on Tuesday and said it may take action against the company manufacturing the popular snack. Read more
State Health Minister U T Khader has asked shops not to sell Maggi and other brands of instant noodles till the controversy over their safety standards is resolved. Read more
The government has begun testing samples of Maggi noodles following directions from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, after high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a taste enhancer, and lead beyond permissible limits were detected in the packs elsewhere in the country. Read more
Maggi instant noodles samples being tested as part of the nationwide exercise over presence of MSG, lead in their food products. Read more
Signalling growing trouble for Nestle India, manufacturers of Maggi, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij ordered the sampling of Maggi noodles across the state. Read more
Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration has collected 39 samples of Maggi noodles and sent them for laboratory testing. Read more
The State government has decided to temporarily stop distribution of Maggi noodles from over 1,000 retail outlets following the Uttar Pradesh FSDA finding monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of prescribed limit in the snack. Read more
Punjab has joined the states which have ordered laboratory testing of Maggi noodles samples following allegations of lapses in food safety standards.Read More