SC nod to destroying 550-tonne Maggi stock

New Delhi, October 3

The Supreme Court today gave its approval to Nestle India and FSSAI to destroy 550 tonnes of recalled stocks of Maggi noodles, which have passed shelf life and are in the possession of the company and the food regulator.

A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit said the stock stored at 39 locations of the company across India and the stock with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in Lucknow shall be destroyed as per the agreed procedures between both parties.

Senior advocate Arvind Dattar, appearing for Nestle India, said the stock would be destroyed at the incinerators of the notified cement plants by the FSSAI and representatives of food regulator can also be present.

Advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for FSSAI, said they were not opposed to destructing stocks but there were some issues regarding disposal of the stock that were subject matter of SLP filed against the Bombay High Court order. The Bench granted liberty to the parties to approach court in case of any grievances and disposed of the pleas.

On September 21, Nestle had moved court seeking to destroy 550 tonnes of Maggi noodles, saying their storage may lead to health hazard. It said pursuant to withdrawal announcement and ban order on June 5, 2015, Nestle had recalled stocks of Maggi noodles and till September 1, 2015, destroyed around 38,000 tonnes of the noodles. — PTI