Goa FDA sends Maggi samples for third test for lab 'credibility'

Goa's Food and Drugs Administration became the first state organisation to get a third test done on Maggi noodles, a product which was recalled from all stores and outlets across the country on the order of central regulator Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Goa FDA had given a clean chit to Nestle India's instant noodles after it had found lead below the permissible level and no monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the samples that it had analysed. But FSSAI had dismissed the report as "questionable".

The third test, samples for which were couriered on Wednesday to Mysuru's Central Food Technological Research Institute, is to restore "credibility" of the state laboratory where Maggi noodles was examined first by Goa FDA. The nationally-accredited institute in Mysuru, a food referral lab of the longest standing, is expected to complete its analysis of Maggi noodles samples within eight to 10 days.

If the Mysuru test is in sync with the first two in terms of lead and MSG, it may in a way come as a breather for Nestle. Around the same time, the fate of other noodles and pasta brands will also be known as FSSAI has set June 19 as deadline for getting the test results from the states for other brands, too.

Salim A Veljee, director at Goa FDA, told Business Standard, "We are complying with the recall order of FSSAI and so far 21,600 kg of Maggi noodles have been withdrawn from the state. But we have sent the samples to Mysore for counter-verification. This is only to reinforce our (Goa) lab's credibility."

Following the noodles' test at the state government's food lab, Goa FDA had got a second analysis done at the state pollution control board-both showed permissible lead content. However, in the results sent to FSSAI, Goa FDA did not mention the exact quantum of lead as "it was much below the permissible level", according to Veljee.

Maharashtra FDA, which showed negligible lead content in 15 out of 20 samples, is not going for any counter-verification test as "FSSAI has already ordered a national recall". Harshdeep Kamble, commissioner at Maharashtra FDA, said the state labs are now busy testing samples of all instant noodles and pasta brands, along with other Maggi products available in the market. After giving an all-clear rating to Maggi noodles, Maharashtra FDA had subsequently said it found excessive lead content in some samples-five in 20.

Kerala, which, too, had cleared Maggi noodles after two tests, is busy analysing other brands. "Another test is not required," a food safety officer said. West Bengal was among the other states that had not found any violation in Maggi noodles. The commissioner at the West Bengal FDA could not be contacted for comment.