Bombay HC says will rule on Maggi case next week

The Bombay High Court has reserved its order on the ongoing case between Nestle India and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the nation-wide ban enforced on sale of its popular 2-minute Maggi noodles.

The court has said that as there was no consensus on fresh tests, the matter would be posted for a fresh hearing next week.

Nestle had moved the high court against a June 5 ban imposed on sale and manufacture of Maggi noodles and a ban issued in Maharashtra on June 6 after 30 samples out of 72 tested high for lead content.

A two-judge bench of the high court, comprising of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla has asked the FSSAI to conduct a retest of the samples.

Mehmood Pracha, counsel for FSSAI CEO Yudhvir Singh told the court that a retest was not permitted under the Food Safety Act, and said that if permitted, it could open up other similar cases for legal scrutiny.

Darius Khambata, counsel for the Maharashtra food authorities, said the extra preserved samples already taken could be tested, but only in referral labs.

Nestle said it would give fresh samples for a test at labs notified and accredited.