ITC to remove 'no added MSG' disclaimer from 'Yippee' noodles

Under the FSS Act, if a manufacturer adds MSG in its product, only then the quantum of MSG has to be declared

Diversified business conglomerate ITC would remove the disclaimer "no added MSG" from packets of its instant noodles sold under Sunfeast Yippee brand following recent directions by the central food safety regulator FSSAI.

According to the company, under the Food Safety Standards Act, if a manufacturer adds MSG (Monosodium glutamate) in its product, then only the quantum of MSG has to be declared.

Moreover, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in connection with noodles of another brand, had held that such statement of having no MSG was "inappropriate", ITC said in a statement.

"Therefore, ITC is voluntarily taking steps to remove the phrase 'no added MSG' from its labels in its new batches of packaging and consumers should ignore this on the current packaging. ITC would like to once again assure consumers that MSG is not added to Sunfeast YiPPee! Noodles," ITC said.

It added: "In recent weeks, there has been some confusion about the manner of declaration of MSG in packaged food items".

"Under the FSS Act, if a manufacturer adds MSG to the product, the quantum of MSG so added needs to be declared. Since no MSG is added in Yippee noodles, the packages carried a statement to that effect, i.E., "contains no added MSG," it added.

On June 8, ITC had said that it was conducting more tests on its products at accredited labs across India over and above internal tests to reassure its customers over safety in the wake of Maggi issue.

FSSAI has ordered testing of various noodles, pasta and macaroni brands, including Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai, manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms in the wake of Maggi controversy.

As per the 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.