Karnataka lifts ban on Maggi

The Karnataka government on Monday lifted the ban on the sale of Maggi noodles across the state with immediate effect, Health Minister U.T.Khader said.

"As no food testing laboratories have quantified the extent of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in Maggi noodles, the ban on its sale in the state is withdrawn with immediate effect," he told reporters here during a press conference.

The popular instant noodle brand of Nestle was banned in the state in June following a directive from watchdog Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

"Any ban without clarity is not justifiable, without clarity we cannot do it," said Khader.

"Karnataka government has taken a stand not to ban any company blindly without any specific reason and clarity."

"We have asked them repeatedly the details, they have not clarified one," he said while referring to central food testing laboratories.

On the company restarting noodles' production, he said: "It is the decision of the company, we won't tell them to start, it is left to them."

The health minister, however, said that "their new product will be tested by the state government, applying the same parameters mentioned in the state food safety act."