Maggi hearing at apex consumer court on Wednesday

The apex consumer disputes forum on Wednesday will hear the Rs.640-crore class action suit filed by the central government against Nestle India, alleging unfair trade practices with regard to Maggi noodles.

The Department of Consumer Affairs filed the class action suit on August 11 in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

During the previous hearing on August 17, bench of the NCDRC comprising Justice V.K. Jain and Justice B.C. Gupta directed Nestle to respond to the notice by September 30.

It also allowed the government to send samples of Maggi noodles to an accredited laboratory for tests on lead content and mono-sodium glutamate (MSG).

The Department of Consumer Affairs had alleged that Nestle by its "unfair trade practices" of selling "defective and hazardous products" with regard to Maggi instant noodles has caused injury to millions of consumers, which called for this class action suit.

The industry watchdog had said in its ban order of June 5 that tests conducted on a batch of Maggi were found to contain more-than-permissible levels of lead and high quantities of MSG.

The company got a respite after the Bombay High Court lifted the ban and ordered fresh tests on the samples at accredited laboratories.