In fresh blows for Nestle India, Maggi noodles was today banned in Delhi for 15 days and Army personnel asked to avoid the popular instant snack while its sale was stopped in Big Bazaar outlets even as more states ordered testing of its samples and other fast food products came under the scanner.
West Bengal said samples of popular snacks 'Kurkure' and 'Lays' are also being sent for testing.
As food safety concerns over the two-minute Maggie noodles rose, the Centre, in a first, filed a written complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) against the Indian arm of the Swiss multinational for alleged violations of safety standards.
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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, against whom a Bihar court has ordered registration of an FIR after he was featured in their advertisments, said he will cooperate with "what the law says" though he hasn't received any notice in connection with the product that he "stopped promoting" two years ago. Actors Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta were also named in the FIR.
The Indian Army issued an advisory in the evening asking its personnel not to consume Maggi noodles and directed its canteen to set aside the existing stock till further orders.
The Delhi Government said sale of Maggi noodles was banned in the national capital for 15 days as it found the snack "unsafe" for consumption due to excessive lead even as it decided to carry out lab test of all other noodles.
The decision came after Delhi Health Department was not satisfied with explanation of Nestle India given to authorities on finding "lead beyond permissible limit" in the noodle samples lifted from across the city.
"Government has put a ban on Maggi noodles for 15 days. We have asked Nestle India to withdraw Maggi stocks within 15 days. We will carry out lab testing of fresh stocks and a decision will be taken thereafter," Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain told reporters.
