New Delhi: Popular instant noodle brand Maggi has once again landed in controversy after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reportedly issued a show-cause notice to Nestlé India over complaints of worms being found in Maggi noodle packets.
According to a media report, the food regulator has taken serious note of complaints that surfaced on social media and has directed the company to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR). FSSAI has also reportedly instructed Nestlé to immediately recall the affected batch from the market and supply chain as a precautionary measure.
The regulator has sought detailed information regarding the source of raw materials used in the allegedly affected batch and has asked the company to provide quality-control records and inspection documents related to the product before it was released into the market.
FSSAI has further asked Nestlé to explain the steps taken to identify and withdraw potentially affected products from retail outlets and distribution channels. The company has also been directed to submit a comprehensive plan outlining improvements to its quality-control systems and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Nestlé rejects allegations
Nestlé India has denied the allegations and said it does not accept reports based on what it described as an unverified social media account. The company stated that it has been unable to obtain the alleged affected product sample because the complainant’s social media account could not be contacted.
A company spokesperson said Nestlé has already submitted a detailed presentation to the concerned authorities, including batch-specific quality records, market sample analyses and laboratory test reports.
The development has once again put one of India’s most widely consumed packaged food products under regulatory scrutiny, with authorities expected to examine the matter further before taking any final decision.
