Page 5 - Nestle Maggi Controversy

A month into Maggi fiasco, instant noodles sales crash 90%

One month after the ban of Maggi, instant noodles sales in India have crashed by over 90 per cent to just about Rs 30 crore from Rs 350 crore a month earlier, according to industry estimates. With the key category facing an uncertain future, food processing industry players are worried that this could have an impact on their overall investment plans, while companies are now facing 'increased harassment from safety inspectors', according to a senior official of industry body Assocham. "In the last one month the instant noodles category has suffered a massive drop in sales to about Rs 30 crore a month. Before the Maggi ban this category was around Rs 4,200 crore annually, which is about Rs 350 crore per month. There is a fear psychosis among consumers," the official said. Last month central food safety regulator FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding excessive levels of lead and violation of labelling regulations on taste ...

Nestle India to start exporting Maggi noodles 'as soon as possible'

UK, Canada and Singapore have given a clean chit to the instant noodles brand

Canada follows suit, seventh country to clear Maggi noodles

More relief for Nestle's Maggi noodles. Following the United Kingdom, another country with major Indian origin population - Canada found Maggi noodles, imported from India, to be safe for human consumption. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), today early morning (Indian Time), issued a statement announcing its findings on the India-made instant noodles.

Nestle plans to relaunch India's favourite snack

In an internal email, the firm has said that it would like to return Maggi to its rightful place

Made in India Maggi safe to eat, says UK food regulator

UK's food regulator Food Standards Agency (FSA) today gave a clean chit to Nestle for Maggi manufactured in India saying levels of lead in the product are well within the EU permissible levels. "The FSA can confirm that results from testing samples of Maggi Noodles in the UK have all found that levels of lead in the product is well within EU permissible levels and would not be a concern to consumers," FSA said in statement. It further said: "Following an incident in India, where a sample of Maggi Noodles was reported to contain high levels of lead, the Food Standards Agency made the decision to test a selection of Maggi Noodles as a precaution. In India, this incident has resulted in a large scale withdrawal of the product." Nestle informed FSA that the only variety of Maggi Noodles they import into the UK from India is the 'masala flavour'. "The FSA has now tested this flavour and others from the Maggi noodles range, as a precaution. As well as tests carried out by local ...

Nestle admits it could have averted crisis

Brand and public relations experts have been unanimous that events leading up to the June 5 ban and recall of Maggi noodles could have been handled better had Nestle India been more proactive

Maggi export relief not significant, say analysts

Firm, however, says operating domestic production lines for export of the product is viable

Bombay HC allows Nestle to export Maggi noodles, India ban continues

Court to take up the matter for hearing on July 14

After Maggi, Top Ramen withdrawn from Indian market

After Maggi controversy, Indo Nissin today announced withdrawal of its instant noodles brand 'Top Ramen' from the Indian market on orders from central food safety regulator FSSAI. Earlier this month, Nestle had to recall Maggi noodles, while Hindustan Unilever also withdrew its Knorr instant noodles brand over safety and regulatory issues. On June 8, FSSAI had come out with the advisory on product safety testing of all instant noodle products in India after lead beyond permissible limits in Maggi noodles along with taste enhancer Monosodium glutamate (MSG). "At that time we had sought clarification from FSSAI since Top Ramen product approval is pending with the regulator. They have requested us to withdraw the product until they give the product approval," Indo Nissin Foods Pvt Ltd Managing Director Gautam Sharma said in a statement. He further said Top Ramen was extensively tested in the last few weeks after product safety concerns arose in the category. "We have tested at two ..

In the process of destroying Maggi worth Rs 320 cr: Nestle

Nestle India is in the process of destroying Maggi instant noodles worth Rs 320 crore after it was banned by central food safety regulator FSSAI due to presence of lead and taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond permissible limits. The company said it is in the process of withdrawing the stock of Maggi Noodles from markets, factories and distribution and destroying it. "The estimated sales value of the stock in the market, including those with our trade partners is around Rs 210 crore. In addition, there was Maggi Noodles and related materials in our factories and distribution centres when the withdrawal was announced and the estimated value of these is around Rs 110 crore," Nestle India informed the BSE. It, however, added that it was only a broad estimate "as it is impossible to calculate the final figure while the withdrawal is taking place". "There will be additional costs to take into account for example bringing stock from the market, transporting ..

Traders seek immediate refund from Nestle for recalled Maggi

Nestle has about 4,000 distributors and sub stockists in the country

Maggi's trial by fire

Nestle is facing its worst crisis ever. Can it learn from its peers?

Decision on damages to depend on FSSAI report: Govt on Maggi

Govt has filed a complaint, using a provision for the first time from the nearly three-decade-old Consumer Protection Act

Maggi noodles meet safety standards in Singapore

Singapore importers of India-manufactured Maggi noodles have been asked to withhold sales of the products

Food safety squads to ensure no sale of Maggi in Kerala

Noodles of all brands would also be subjected to stringent tests

Inform us of stand on imposing ban on Maggi noodles: HC to govt

The Kerala High Court today asked the state government to inform it of its stand regarding imposing a ban on Maggi noodles in the state. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Saffique directed the government to file an affidavit informing them of their stand on the issue while considering a petition by one Thampi Subrahmanian from Kochi. Subrahmanian contended that several states had banned Maggi noodles, but the food product was easily available in Kerala markets yesterday also. The petitioner argued that the state authorities and food safety commissioner have a responsibility to see that only safe foods are sold in Kerala. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had on Friday ordered for recall of all variants of Nestle India's Maggi noodles, terming them as "unsafe and hazardous" for human consumption. Maggi noodles have been withdrawn from the markets after several states banned it as tests showed that it contained ..

Experts urge FSSAI to standardise its testing procedure

The statutory regulator's reports irregular; vary across states, batches

Now, FSSAI to test GSK, ITC fast food brands

Central food safety regulator FSSAI today ordered testing of various noodles, pasta and macaroni brands, including Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai, manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms in the wake of Maggi controversy. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also asked for testing of four variants of "Maggi Nutilicious Pazzta with tastemakers". "Various test results on Maggi and some other similar products have raised serious health concerns. In view of the same, it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by the FSSAI...These samples should be sent to the authorised labs for testing," FSSAI CEO YS Malik said in letter to Commissioners of Food Safety in all states and UTs. As per FSSAI order, the companies whose products have been listed for testing are Nestle India, ITC, Indo Nissin Food Ltd, GSK Consumer Helathcare, CG Foods India, Ruchi International and AA Nutrition .

Making celeb endorsers liable

The letter of the law currently favours celeb endorsers, unless the government decides to bring in stricter provisions to make them accountable for lapses in a product or service

I stand by my lab's results on Maggi: Balwinder Bajwa

The one thing that stood out in the furore over Maggi has been the difference over test results. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has declared Maggi unsafe for consumption, the company claims otherwise. The Nestle website has three test reports - all prepared by the Kolkata-based Edward Food Research & Analysis Centre (EFRAC) - stating that in all Maggi Masala noodles samples the private laboratory had tested for lead and other heavy metals were within the permissible limits. In an interaction with Arindam Majumder, EFRAC CEO Balwinder Bajwa defended his lab's results. Edited Excerpts: