Karnataka testing Maggi noodles for safety

The Karnataka government on Tuesday sent random samples of Nestle's Maggi noodles to a state-run lab in Mysuru for testing its contents in the wake of the product allegedly failing to conform to food safety norms.

"I have directed my officials to randomly lift packets of Maggi noodles from retail shops, supermarkets, malls and its manufacturing units across the state for testing at CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) to verify if food safety norms are violated," state Health Minister U.T. Khader told reporters in Mangaluru, about 350 km from here.

Nestle has four manufacturing units in the state.

The health department has also sent a few samples of Maggi to a private lab in Bengaluru to test if lead content in the noodles was in excess or within the safety limits.

"We are expecting test results from the labs in a day or two. Till then, we advise people to avoid buying or consuming them (Maggi noodles) though we have not imposed any ban on its sale in the state," Khader said.

Nestle came under scanner after the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration directed it to withdraw a batch of noodles, manufactured in February 2014 and found to have taste enhancer (monosodium glutamate) in excess and high levels of lead.

"The central government has also asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSI) to test samples of Maggi noodles from all states," Khader added.