After #Nestle’s #Maggi, other noodles in hot water too; #TamilNadu and #Gujarat ban top brands

#Chennai / #GandhiNagar :   After #Nestle’s #Maggi, two states have #banned other top brands of instant noodles after samples were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and taste enhancer #monosodium glutamate ( #MSG).

While the Tamil Nadu government banned Wai Wai Xpress Noodles, Reliance Select Instant Noodles and Smith and Jones Chicken Masala Noodles for 3 months, the Gujarat government banned Leong Hakka noodles brand for 30 days after samples failed laboratory tests.

A release from the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday night said the manufacture, storage and sale of the other three noodle brands along with Maggi were banned after lead above the stipulated limit of 10 lakh per 2.5 parts per million (PPM)was found in samples. The companies were also ordered to recall stocks from retail outlets.

“It was found that the four brands had lead over and above the allowed levels,” the release said.

Officials of the state commissioner of Food Safety ordered the ban under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, after clearance from chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The Gujarat government tested one sample each of instant noodles of ITC Sunfeast’s YiPPee and SK Foods’ Leong Hakka noodles and banned the latter for a month after finding high lead content.

“Sample of Sunfeast passed the lead test, but traces of monosodium glutamate was found in it. We will test more #samples of Sunfeast before taking any action on its instant noodle,” #Gujarat #health #minister #NitinPatel said.

The state government also collected samples of various other brands of noodles from provision stores, small retailers and malls and sent them for testing.

The Delhi government, which was the first to announce a ban on Maggi, lifted nine samples of instant noodles brands from different areas in the city on Thursday and sent them for laboratory testing.

“These nine samples of instant noodles have been sent to central government’s accredited and approved labs and their reports are expected shortly,” a senior state government official told PTI.

Meanwhile, food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), ordered state governments to check all noodle products made in the country.

“I have told states to not confine only to Maggi, but extend to other manufacturers of noodles,” Yudhvir Singh Malik, chief executive of FSSAI told Reuters.

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