FSSAI orders testing of GSK, ITC, other noodle brands

With the Maggi controversy raising serious health concerns, food safety regulator FSSAI today ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms.
In a letter to Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and UTs, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked them to test samples of noodles, pastas and macaroni (with tastemaker) on a set of comprehensive parameters. Cake and masala/tastemaker should be tested separately.
The states and Union Territories have been asked to submit reports by June 19.

"Various test results on Maggi and some other similar products have raised serious health concerns. In view of the same, it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by the FSSAI... These samples should be sent to the authorised labs for testing," FSSAI CEO YS Malik said in the letter.
The letter follows FSSAI order on Friday banning all variants of Nestle India's Maggi noodles terming them as "unsafe and hazardous" for human consumption.
Nestle India recalled Maggi from the markets after several states banned the famous '2-minute' instant food brand as tests showed that it contained taste enhancer MSG (Monosodium glutamate) and lead in excess of the permissible limits.

As per FSSAI order, the companies whose products have been listed for testing are Nestle India, ITC, Indo Nissin Food Ltd, GSK Consumer Healthcare, CG Foods India, Ruchi International and AA Nutrition Ltd. The regulator has ordered the testing of products registered with it.

The products include Wai Wai noodles and bhujiya chicken snacks by CG Foods; Koka instant noodles from Ruchi International and Foodles by GSK Consumer Healthcare.
Nestle's Maggi instant noodles with nine variants as well as four variants of "Maggi Nutilicious Pazzta with tastemakers" would also be tested.
Others in the list are Indo Nissin's Top Ramen Atta Masala, ITC's three variants of instant noodles and AA Nutrition's Yummy chicken noodles and Yummy veg noodles.