New Delhi

Sale of instant noodles Maggi, a popular product of Nestle India, was today banned in the national capital for 15 days as Delhi government found it “unsafe” for consumption due to excessive lead even as it decided to carry out lab test of all other noodles.

The Delhi Government also directed the Indian arm of the Swiss multinational giant to withdraw Maggi stocks from the Delhi market within 15 days after which laboratory test will be conducted on fresh stocks and a decision will be taken whether it can be sold.

The decision to ban sale of Maggi came after Delhi Health Department was not satisfied with explanation of Nestle India on authorities finding “lead beyond permissible limit” in the noodle samples lifted from across the city.

“Government has put a ban on Maggi noodles for 15 days.

We have asked Nestle India to withdraw Maggi stocks within 15 days. We will carry out lab testing of fresh stocks and a decision will be taken thereafter,” Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain told reporters here.

Jain said government will file a case against Nestle India in court as per provisions of the Food Adulteration Act and will “not compromise” on issues relating to health safety.

He said government will also carry out lab testing of all other noodles brands available in the city and will take action based on the reports.

Earlier a group of officials from Nestle India explained to Jain about their position on the issue insisting that they the Maggi noodles were not harmful for consumption.

Yesterday, the Delhi government had said that it found samples of Maggi noodles “unsafe” for consumption as it contained lead beyond the permissible level in Maggi masala (tastemaker).

According to officials, a total of 13 samples of masala (tastemaker) were lifted by authorities from various areas of the city last week of which 10 were found unsafe.

Five samples of masala were also having monosodium glutamate without proper label declaration which is an offence under the category of misbranding, they said.

A number of states including Kerala and Haryana have initiated steps on the Maggi issue.

The probe into alleged lapses of food safety standards has already been expanded to test Maggi noodle samples from across the country following detection of monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in the noodles.

However, Nestle India claimed it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as in-house and that the product was found “safe to eat”.

PTI