Goa FDA asks Nestle to recall Maggi stock from 709 outlets

9,600 km of noodle packets withdrawn so far, more likely to get of shelves, says FDA chief

The Food and Drugs Administration in Goa has asked Nestle company to recall all the stock of Maggi noodles from 709 outlets across the state by this evening, which would be destroyed in presence of authorities a week later.

FDA has issued these instructions to Nestle which has its production unit at Bicholim town, 40 kms away from here.

"Till last evening, 9,600 kilograms of Maggi noodle packets were withdrawn from the shelves. More are likely to get off the shelves today. The stock from all the 709 outlets would be withdrawn," FDA Director Salim Velji told PTI today.

He said the recall has been ordered as per the instructions of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which has issued circulars to all the states.

However, we have no orders from the state government, Velji said.

The destruction would be properly documented by the officials and video recording would be done to ensure that no one raises doubts, he said.

State Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday had announced that Maggi noodles were banned in Goa.

The ban in Goa came much after other states prohibited sale of the instant snack. The tests conducted on Maggi in Goa's FDA lab had not shown any adverse results.

"We are sending the samples for testing today to Mysore's lab which is approved by the FSSAI. I am confident about the results from my laboratory. But I want to restore confidence of people in my laboratory by taking second opinion from Mysore lab," the director said reacting to statements which had questioned the authenticity of FDA lab results.

He said seven samples including one which was produced in Nestle's unit in Punjab would be sent for testing this evening to Mysore.