Maggi's unending woes: Maharashtra Govt to approach SC

State food ministry confirms it will challenge Bombay HC order striking down FSSAI ban on Maggi noodles

Nestle's woes with the Indian authorities with its instant noodle brand Maggi seems to be unending even after clearing the test mandated by the Bombay High Court.

Girish Bapat, Maharashtra food, civil supplies and consumer protection minister, on Saturday said the state government was planning to take up the clean chit to Maggi with the highest judicial body of the country.

“We have sought legal opinion on the issue within the government and the opinion suggests that we must challenge the Bombay HC decision in the Supreme Court. So, we will go ahead,” Bapat said on the sidelines of a BJP event at Pune.

Read more from our special coverage on "NESTLE MAGGI CONTROVERSY"

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• Nestle Indias Maggi noodles passes safety test
• Consumer court orders retesting of Nestle Maggi
• Undeterred by Maggi issue, other product launches double
• Nestle awaits test results before resuming Maggi production

The Bombay High Court had on August 13 struck down a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ban on Maggi noodles and ordered fresh tests. The court had asked the company to retest samples at three National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration laboratories. (NABL).

Earlier this week, in a statement Nestle India said that the laboratories nominated by the Bombay High Court found lead below permissible limits in all 90 samples of six variants of Maggi noodles sent for testing.

However, the company had also stated that "Actual sale would start only after the newly manufactured products are also cleared by the designated three laboratories".

"Re-starting the manufacturing process and bringing Maggi noodles to the market is a lengthy and complex process, which requires alignment with several stakeholders, including our suppliers, distributors and retailers. Five of our eight plants have the capacity to manufacture Maggi noodles and all of these use state-of-the-art technology, follow the same stringent standards, are FSSC 22000-certified and all Nestle India plants maintain the same high quality. Now that we have received the test results mandated by the Bombay High Court, we will evaluate where we can accelerate the process of re-starting under the current circumstances," said a Nestle India spokesperson.