Gujarat extends ban on Maggi for another month

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government today extended the ban on Nestle's Maggi noodles for another month as the company failed to produce safety standard reports, an official said.

"We have extended the ban on Maggi because the company failed to furnish reports regarding the safety of its product," Gujarat Food and Drug Control Authority commissioner H G Koshia told PTI.

"We have also extended the ban on Hakka noodles of SK Foods for one month as it too did not produce reports on safety," he added.

The state government, on June 4, banned the sale of Maggi noodles for one month in the state after the lead and monosodium glutamate levels in the noodles were found to be above the prescribed limits.

Of the 27 samples, 14 had 2.8 PPM to 5 PPM (particle per million) of lead, as against the prescribed limit of 2.5 PPM, according to the state government.

Koshia said the authorities also found a product of Surat-based 'Badri's Yummy Noodles' unsafe for consumption due to high lead content, and banned its production, sale and distribution in the state for one month today.

Maggi noodles have been banned in many other states following the allegations of high levels of lead and MSG.