Telangana bans Maggi even as it awaits outcome of lab tests

State says the ban is a precautionary move and a decision defining the ban period would be initiated following the report of the food safety department

The Telangana government on Friday announced a ban on the sales of Nestle's Maggi noodles even as the outcome of the laboratory tests confirming the presence of lead and added monosodium glutamate is expected by June 8.

Speaking to Business Standard, director of Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health K Amarender Reddy said the move was taken "keeping in mind the public health and safety".

The state health and family welfare department officials said the ban was a precautionary move and a decision defining the ban period would be initiated following the report of the food safety department.

The state health and family welfare department officials said they were expecting the outcome of 23 samples of Maggi noodle packs, collected from all the districts of the state, to be available in the next three days. The state government has asked its officials to carry out the laboratory tests of Maggi noodles on June 3.

On the delay in commissioning the laboratory tests, Reddy said the institute was having staff constraints and it had to deal with samples collected from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
 

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government is also considering imposing a ban on the controversial Nestle product. State food commissioner said a total of 36 samples had been collected and were awaiting the final result.