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Nestle decides to take Maggi off the shelves across country after food safety scare
Posted By indiacsr On June 5, 2015 @ 9:41 AM In Corporate | Comments Disabled
[1]IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Manufacturer Nestle India decided to take Maggi off the shelves late on Thursday after six states, including national capital Delhi, imposed a ban on the instant noodles following a controversy over food safety fears.
“The trust of our consumers and the safety of our products is our first priority. Unfortunately, recent developments and unfounded concerns about the product have led to an environment of confusion for the consumer, to such an extent that we have decided to withdraw the product off the shelves, despite the product being safe,” Nestle said in a press release posted on its website late on Thursday night.
The decision came on the day five states – Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand — cracked the whip against the popular ‘two-minute’ noodles that is widely consumed across the country and contributes over a quarter to Nestle India’s revenues. At least 10 other states have sent samples of Maggi noodles for tests amid a widespread panic
“We promise that the trusted MAGGI Noodles will be back in the market as soon as the current situation is clarified,” Nestle said in the release.
“MAGGI Noodles are completely safe and have been trusted in India for over 30 years,” Nestle reiterated, reacting to the lab tests that showed the noodles contained dangerously high levels of lead and chemical flavour enhancer Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).
Health experts say excessive intake of lead can cause damage to the kidneys, bones and nervous system and is particularly harmful to children and can cause learning disorders. MSG, on the other hand, can damage the nervous system with long-term use.
A number of prominent retailers including the Future Group, which runs Big Bazaar, Walmart and Metro AG have already taken the ubiquitous snack from off their shelves.
The flurry of bans hurt Nestle India with plunging sales of its flagship product sending share prices down by around 4% on Thursday, following a nearly 10% slump on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the country’s food safety regulator has ordered state governments to check all noodle products.
Tamil Nadu on Thursday became the first state to ban other noodle brands as well. The state said tests showed excessive levels of lead in Maggi noodles and Reliance’s instant noodles, as well as Wai Wai Xpress Noodles and Smith and Jones Chicken Masala Noodles.
“Manufacturing, stocking and sales…will be banned for three months as an initial move,” the state government said in a statement.
Yudhvir Singh Malik, chief executive of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said, “I have told states to not confine only to Maggi, but extend to other manufacturers of noodles.”
“Why should we isolate Nestle? It’s not a question of targeting.”
Several companies including ITC, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries as well as numerous smaller firms sell noodle products in India.
(Hindustan Times, Jun 05)
[IndiaCSR is renowned and No.1 news portal in the domain of CSR, which is live since 2009. www.indiacsr.in is for you and your organization. Kindly support and promote it. We welcome reactions to stories, comments on issues that interest you, feedback & comments from your side to make it more purposeful and resourceful, we will carry it in our portal. Please send us your valuable feedback, suggestions and news, press releases, articles and contributions at editor@indiacsr.in. You can find updates at Facebook IndiaCSR News Network [2] ] MAGGI Noodles Safe says Nestlé India
Posted By indiacsr On June 5, 2015 @ 9:37 AM In Corporate | Comments Disabled
[3]IndiaCSR News Network
GURGAON: Manufacturer Nestle India decided to take Maggi off the shelves late on June 5, 2015 after six states, including national capital Delhi, imposed a ban on the instant noodles following a controversy over food safety fears.
“MAGGI Noodles are completely safe and have been trusted in India for over 30 years. The trust of our consumers and the safety of our products is our first priority.”, Nestle India today said in its website.
“Unfortunately, recent developments and unfounded concerns about the product have led to an environment of confusion for the consumer, to such an extent that we have decided to withdraw the product off the shelves, despite the product being safe. We promise that the trusted MAGGI Noodles will be back in the market as soon as the current situation is clarified.”, Nestle said.
(Nestle India Statement on MAGGI Noodles: https://www.nestle.in/media/pressreleases/maggi-noodles-safe-nestle-decides-to-take-products-off-shelves)
(IndiaCSR is renowned and No.1 news portal in the domain of CSR, which is live since 2009. www.indiacsr.in is for you and your organization. Kindly support and promote it. We welcome reactions to stories, comments on issues that interest you, feedback & comments from your side to make it more purposeful and resourceful, we will carry it in our portal. Please send us your valuable feedback, suggestions and news, press releases, articles and contributions at editor@indiacsr.in. You can find updates at Facebook IndiaCSR News Network [2] )
Nestle India defends Maggi Controversy, Says It is Confident about Quality
Posted By indiacsr On May 25, 2015 @ 6:22 PM In Corporate | Comments Disabled
[3]IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: On April 30, 2015 the local authorities in Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh asked Nestle India to recall one batch of MAGGI Noodles (around 200,000 packs) which were manufactured in February 2014 and had already reached the ‘Best Before date’ in November 2014.
Nestle was asked to recall one batch of Maggi noodles after tests showed it contained seven times higher levels of lead than permissible and traces of the controversial ingredient Monosodium glutamate (MSG). However, Nestlé India in its official website claims confidence that these packs are no longer in the market.
The company has filed the requisite representations with the authorities. It is important to note that there are no other orders to recall MAGGI Noodle products in the market, The company further added. People can be confident that MAGGI Noodle products are safe to eat. Company reiterates that quality and safety of products are the top priorities for Nestle.
The release on Nestle’s web says “Company follows strict food safety and quality controls at their MAGGI factories, including thorough quality checks at each stage of raw material sourcing and manufacturing process. This includes comprehensive testing to ensure that MAGGI Noodles comply with all applicable food safety laws, as well as Nestle’s own high standards of quality and safety before they reach consumers”
Nestle is aware of reports that tests by the local authorities have detected Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in a sample of MAGGI Noodles and that they are continuing their investigation. The company have submitted product samples to an independent accredited laboratory and will share the results with the authorities.
The release claims that Nestle do not add MSG to MAGGI Noodles sold in India and this is stated on the concerned product. However, it has used hydolysed groundnut protein, onion powder and wheat flour to make MAGGI Noodles sold in India, which all contain glutamate. Company believes that the authorities’ tests may have detected glutamate, which occurs naturally in many foods.
Nestle says that the company is aware of the reports of elevated levels of lead in a pack of MAGGI Noodles analysed by the authorities. It regularly monitors for lead as part of their stringent quality control processes, including testing by accredited laboratories. These tests have consistently shown lead levels in MAGGI Noodles to be within permissible limits. Nestle says ” It has submitted product samples to an independent accredited laboratory and will share the results with the authorities.