CAIT urges govt to take action against Maggi brand ambassadors

Traders body CAIT has urged Health Minister J P Nadda and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan to take action against brand ambassadors of Nestle's famous noodles brand Maggi under the FSSAI Act.
In a letter to the ministers, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that Maggi brand ambassadors have violated Section 24 of the Food Safety & Standards Act (FSSAI) and therefore proceedings must be initiated against them as also taking action against Nestle.
"When proceedings against Maggie is launched by FSSAI, why no action is being taken against its brand ambassadors and the chain of officials who approved the product despite it having either deficiencies or exaggerated good claims," CAIT said in a statement today.

CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal wrote to Paswan and Nadda that the brand ambassadors of Maggi have violated Section 24 of The FSSAI Act and therefore proceedings must be initiated against them, besides taking action against the manufacturer, CAIT said.
Section 24 provides for restrictions on advertisement of any food which misleads or deceives or contravenes the provisions of FSSAI Act, Rules & Regulations made thereunder.
Earlier this month, the government had warned of action against the brand ambassadors if the advertisements for the noodles were found to be misleading.

CAIT did not mention the brand ambassadors.

To a query on any action against Maggi brand ambassadors, Consumer Affairs Additional Secretary G Gurucharan had earlier said, "Yes, they would be liable for action if the advertisements are found to be misleading."
Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have been separately dragged to the court for promoting the 'two-minute' noodles brand.
"On pack of Maggie pack it is claimed that Maggie has 'Grain Shakti' without elaborating, which grain and how much Shakti. They have mentioned 'fibre of three roties' without specifying grain used for making roti and size and thickness of roti," CAIT said.
The brand ambassador have given health guarantee to the public, which is not based on any adequate or scientific judgement and therefore makes them liable to face prosecution for violation of Section 24 of FSSAI Act, 2006, it added.

CAIT also drew the attention to Nestle Global CEO Paul Bulcke's statement to the media in the national capital.
While addressing a press conference he said that: "We apply the same quality standards and methods in the world here in India too."
"If this is so why the Maggie pack contains a line "For sale in India, Nepal and Bhutan" only. It speaks double standards of Nestle and must be taken notice of," CAIT said.