Food regulator orders testing of branded noodles, pasta, macaroni

Aditi Tandon

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 8

After ordering the recall of nine variants of Nestle’s Maggi noodles, the apex food regulator today ordered the safety review of all other top noodles, pasta and macaroni brands, including those marketed by Nestle, ITC, GlaxoSmithKline, and also Top Ramen and Wai Wai brands.

In a detailed advisory issued today, CEO of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Yudhvir Singh Malik has asked food safety commissioners of all states to draw regulatory samples of eight top noodles, pasta and macaroni brands and report to it the laboratory test result findings by June 19.

The products for which safety review has been ordered are the ones which have already received product approvals from FSSAI but which need to be reviewed again in the wake of the unsafe lead and MSG found in Maggi noodles brand, which had been approved in the past.

The brands ordered to be reviewed are all four varieties of Nestle pastas and macaroni, including  tomato twist pazzta, cheese macaroni pazzta, masala penne pazzta, mushroom penne pazzta); three noodles of CG Foods’ namely Wai Wai 123 veg noodles, Wai Wai chicken noodles and Wai Wai  chicken snacks and all 10 variants of GSK’s Foodles.

Also under the scanner are ITC marketed three variants of instant noodles, namely Instant Noodles and Magic Masala, Instant Noodles and Classic Masala, and Instant Noodles with Chinese Masala. Top Ramen Atta Masala noodles of Indo Nissin Foods Limited will also be tested for food safety compliance, so will be AA Nutrition’s Yummy Chicken (instant) Noodles/Bits and Yummy Veg Noodles/Bits.

Ruchi International’s Koka Instant Noodles have also been ordered to be reviewed for safety after the FSSAI had to impose nationwide ban on nine variants of Maggi noodles which were found to contain MSG and high lead content.

The FSSAI in its advisory to states has also said that all the remaining (except those being sold by the above mentioned eight brands) noodles, pastas and macaronis being marketed across India are “illegal” and have no product approvals.

“The remaining non-standardised products must be immediately recalled as these have no FSSAI approvals. Only the listed eight brands have product approvals of FSSAI to seal their noodles, pastas and macaroni products. We have asked the already approved brands to undergo another safety test and the rest to be withdrawn completely,” Malik said.