SC seeks more reports on Maggi quality

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Mysuru-based CFTRI lab to get more samples of Maggi to test the lead and Mono Sodium Glucomate (MSG) contents in its taste makers.

The apex court, according to sources, ordered testing of all the samples (that ordered by NCDRC in the Class Suite) at labs of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, Karnataka.

The bench said the institute in Mysore shall also give clarification on the test relating to glutamic acid. The court will hear the matter next on April 5.

Last month on December 16th 2015, the Supreme Court ordered further testing of Maggi noodles samples by an accredited Mysore laboratory.

The bench said for the additional samples the court may communicate with the joint registrar, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), who was appointed as local commissioner. Following the high court order, the food safety regulator FSSAI had moved the Supreme Court.

Underlining that Maggi is consumed mostly by youngsters, a bench led by Justice Dipak Misra asked for clarifications from Mysore lab regarding content of the instant noodles to adjudicate the appeal made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) against an order lifting the ban.

Nestle has resumed production of Maggi noodles at all five of its plants – Punjab, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Goa and Himachal Pradesh.

Nestle India had claimed that Maggi has cleared all tests prescribed by the court.

The apex court had stayed the proceedings before NCDRC and had directed that the test reports, including the earlier one, be placed before it.