Maggi lead scare aftermath: ITC, Hindustan Unilever go in for voluntary tests

MUMBAI: The Maggi fiasco has forced leading packaged food companies ITC and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) to conduct additional voluntary tests on their noodles range from external NABL-accredited and FSSAI-certified laboratories. ITC and HUL — which together control around Rs 8,000 crore of the packaged foods market — are conducting additional tests as a move to reassure consumers on the quality of their products following reports that samples of rival Maggi noodles were found to contain lead and MSG levels beyond prescribed limits.

ITC, which is the second largest noodle maker after Maggi, is conducting extensive tests for its food products at ITC's NABL-accredited life sciences & technology centre as well as at external laboratories that are FSSAI-approved and NABL-accredited.

"While we are confident of the quality and safety of ITC's food products, in a move to reassure the consumer further, we are also testing our products in additional NABL-accredited and FSSAI-approved labs across the country," said an ITC spokesperson, in response to a TOI query.

HUL, which has an annual packaged foods turnover of Rs 1,900 crore, regularly tests all its food products at FSSAI-approved laboratories in addition to internal quality controls. All its suppliers too are periodically audited by external accredited auditing agencies. An HUL spokesperson, however, said, "As a responsible manufacturer and to reassure our consumers, we have conducted additional testing of our noodles range(and will continue to do so) from an external FSSAI-certified laboratory."

Both ITC and HUL said the tests show that their food products comply with regulatory standards.

The ITC spokesperson said, "We are continuing to communicate with all members of the trade reassuring them on Yippee!'s quality and safety. We also continue to address all consumer queries on our products, both online and offline, reiterating the above message."