Question : Sale of Maggi

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has banned the sale of maggi after it failed the tests for food safety standards, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has claimed any damage from the defaulting company;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum of damages, if any, recovered from them;

(d) whether the company has been granted permission to sell maggi in the market again;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the total amount of the products hitherto sold by the said company; and

(f) the norms laid down by the Government for allowing the sale of food items after its sale was banned on account of alleged adulteration?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a): Consequent upon the failure of a sample of Maggi noodles drawn in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, to meet the prescribed standards regarding lead and MSG, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had advised all the States/ UTs vide its communication dated 25th May 2015 to draw samples of the said food product and get the same tested from authorized labs. Based on the test results reported from different states indicating presence of Lead beyond the permissible limits, an order was issued on 5th June 2015 directing M/s Nestle India Ltd to recall its Maggi Noodles. A notice was also issued requiring the Company to show cause as to why the Product Approvals granted in respect of all the variants of Maggi Noodles be not withdrawn. Incidentally, M/s Nestle India Ltd had itself decided to withdraw all the 09 variants of its Maggi Noodles from the market as announced by the Company in a Press Conference held on 5th June, 2015.


(b) & (c): The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a consumer complaint under section 12(1)(d) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), New Delhi against Nestle India on the ground of unfair trade practice being adopted in the sale of maggi noodles, praying for a direction to the company to pay Rs.6.39 crore as compensation and punitive damages.

(d) to (f): The Hon’ble Bombay High Court has quashed the order dated 5th June 2015 passed by the FSSAI. The FSSAI has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on certain issues and pending a decision in the matter, the High Court directions are being complied with.