New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or FSSAI has moved the Supreme Court against Nestle's instant noodles Maggi, challenging a Bombay High Court order that had lifted a ban on the popular snack. Maggi had been banned in June after reports that some packets contained unsafe levels of lead.
In its petition, regulator FSSAI said the High Court should have appointed a neutral authority to select the Maggi samples for test but the court allowed Nestle to pick up samples on its own.
The move violated "principles of natural justice", FSSAI said, adding that Maggi should be banned until a neutral agency picks up the samples and performs tests.
Nestle, which had always maintained the product was safe to eat and continued to sell it in other countries, had resumed selling its Maggi noodles again in India after getting the green light to do so from government laboratories, the company said on Monday.
The Indian unit of the Swiss food giant Nestle SA has been grappling with its worst public relations crisis after local regulators reported in May that some packets of the Maggi noodles contained unsafe levels of lead.
"Following tests by government accredited labs in India showing Maggi noodles are safe to eat, Nestle India has announced that it has started selling the product again," the company said in a statement.
The regulator's findings in May led to a nationwide ban on its Maggi instant noodles and the company had to order a recall of the product a month later, which cost it more than Rs 440 crores.
In August the Bombay High Court overturned the ruling, calling it "arbitrary" and ordered fresh tests.
Last month Nestle said the laboratory tests had found that Maggi noodles were safe to eat. The company later announced it had restarted production at three plants in India and last week said those had also passed laboratory tests.
In its petition, regulator FSSAI said the High Court should have appointed a neutral authority to select the Maggi samples for test but the court allowed Nestle to pick up samples on its own.
The move violated "principles of natural justice", FSSAI said, adding that Maggi should be banned until a neutral agency picks up the samples and performs tests.
The Indian unit of the Swiss food giant Nestle SA has been grappling with its worst public relations crisis after local regulators reported in May that some packets of the Maggi noodles contained unsafe levels of lead.
Advertisement
The regulator's findings in May led to a nationwide ban on its Maggi instant noodles and the company had to order a recall of the product a month later, which cost it more than Rs 440 crores.
Advertisement
Last month Nestle said the laboratory tests had found that Maggi noodles were safe to eat. The company later announced it had restarted production at three plants in India and last week said those had also passed laboratory tests.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Empower Consumers On Food Safety Issues": Health Minister Advises Food Authority Health Minister Asks Food Regulator To Sensitise Consumers On Safety Issues 9 Food Safety Tips You Must Follow To Avoid Monsoon-Related Diseases Windows Systems Restarting, Throwing Blue Screen Of Death Due To This Error Bilkis Bano Convicts' Bail Pleas Dismissed. What Supreme Court Said On CCTV, Gym Trainer Picks Up Club, Hits Mumbai Man On Head During Workout "Too Little Too Late": Ola CEO Slams Google For Slashing Maps' Fee Flights, Markets, Banks, Stock Exchange: Microsoft Outage Crippling Sectors Dosa Truck, Waffle Truck, Biryani And Cakes: How Priyanka Chopra Celebrated Her 42nd Birthday Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.