The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) recently dismissed the Centre’s 2015 complaint against Nestle India over the safety of its Maggi noodle products.
The Centre had accused Nestle of engaging in unfair trade practices by adding a No added MSG label and asserted that the instant noodle product contained impermissible lead levels. Nonetheless, in an April 12 order, NCDRC President, Justice AP Sahi remarked that a Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) report categorically found that the lead content in the tested Maggi noodle products was within permissible limits.
Dismissing the complaint against Nestle, the Commission eventually concluded that the scientific analysis and the clarifications issued by the Government itself do not and have not indicted Neste, there is no material to support the allegations made in the complaint for proceeding any further.
Earlier in 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had directed Nestle to withdraw and recall nine variants of Maggi noodles to rectify the No added MSG labels. The authority also mentioned studies that revealed significant lead content in different variants of Maggi noodles.
It also directed the complete withdrawal of Maggi Oats Masala noodles within 24 hours on the ground that the said product did not undergo risk assessment or get the appropriate approval for its release to the Indian market.
The company was issued a show cause notice as well regarding the product approval for nine variants of its instant noodle products. Nestle immediately withdrew its products as ordered, but challenged the decision before the Bombay High Court. Taking cognizance of the voluntary withdrawal by Nestle, the High Court stayed the government’s order.
Eventually, the Bombay High Court allowed the challenge and permitted Nestle to resume business. Consecutively, the Central government filed a complaint before the NCDRC. The case reached the Supreme Court, which directed an analysis of the noodles by Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and left it open to the NCDRC to evaluate the report.
In the aforesaid report, the NCDRC found, indicated that the lead content in Maggi noodles was within the permissible levels.