New Delhi: State-run retail outlets in Kerala were ordered to withdraw Maggi noodles products and Karnataka and Haryana directing random lifting of this food item for scrutiny. The Gujarat government collected 39 samples on Tuesday and sent them for testing.
In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, additional chief judicial magistrate Ramchandra Prasad directed the Kazi Mohammadpur police station to register the FIR against two Nestle officials besides the three actors and investigate the complaint. The order came during the hearing of a case filed by lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha.
The petition had named managing director of Nestle Mohan Gupta, its joint director Sabab Alam, and actors Amitabh Bachchan, madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, who have featured in Maggi ads at different times.
The complainant claimed that he purchased Maggi noodles from a shop at Lenin chowk of Muzaffarpur on May 30 and that he was taken ill after he ate it. This prompted him to file a case against Nestle, the maker of the noodles and the film stars.
The case has been filed under IPC Sections 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), 276 (sale of drug as a different drug or preparation) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty).
The Union health ministry said it will look into the matter taking note of various reports suggesting that the samples of Maggi contained higher-than-permissible levels of monosodium glutamate and lead.
“We have taken note of the developments and will look into the matter,” a ministry official said.
Kerala food and civil supplies minister Anoop Jacob’s office said an order had been issued to temporarily stop the distribution of Maggi noodles from its retail outlets in the state forthwith till there is clarity.
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”.
The West Bengal food department has convened a meeting on Wednesday to take a view on the issue.
