Government files complaint against Nestle with consumer disputes panel

The government on Wednesday filed a complaint against Nestle India with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), following the controversy over samples of Maggi noodles containing lead beyond permissible limits.

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters here that the NCDRC will probe the matter and take appropriate action.

He said the government, for the first time, was taking action under Section 12-1-D of the Consumer Protection Act, under which both Centre and states have powers to file complaints.

He said as there would be delay in getting the reports from food safety watchdog FSSAI (Food Safety Standards Authority of India) and since it concerned consumers' health, the government decided to file a written complaint before the NCDRC.

Paswan said he did not know what will be the outcome of the FSSAI reports.

"If the FSSAI reports are found to be positive, it is a very serious issue," he said.

The minister defended FSSAI over the Maggi noodles controversy, and said if a company violated the standards, the regulator cannot be responsible for it.

Asked whether FSSAI was responsible for not checking the quality of Maggi, he said: "After getting licence, if someone does wrong and misleads the consumer, how can FSSAI be held responsible?"

He also said that until the inquiry was complete, the government cannot take action either against the company or the brand ambassadors.

The Delhi government on Wednesday banned Maggi noodles for 15 days in the capital, after 10 of 13 samples were found to contain more than the permissible quantity of lead.