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Maggi safe for consumption, will be back again : Nestle's Global CEO

by IBNS 04 Jun 2015, 11:27 pm

New Delhi, June 5 (IBNS) Amid a nationwide controversy that forced Maggi noodles to be off-shelved following ban in five states Nestle's global CEO Paul Bulcke on Friday claimed that the snack, a popular brand across the country is safe for consumption and it will be back again.

His  assertion came after Nestle India, the manufacturers of Maggi, decided to withdraw the product following country-wide scrutiny for high lead content and mono-sodium glutamate or MSG, a taste enhancer.

"Maggi noodles in India are safe for consumption. We have the same quality standards everywhere in the world," Bulcke said while addressing the media.

Explaining the company's decision to withdraw Maggi that contributes to one-fifth of the company's revenues, he said growing concerns about the product has led to a confusion and the "trust of the consumers has been shaken."

"We have been carrying tests on Maggi noodles on multiple batches.  All results that came out indicate that Maggi noodles are safe for consumption," he said.

"There may be some MSG occurring in other ingredients. Will take off 'No MSG' from the label so that there's no confusion about it."

"Trust of our consumers is of paramount importance to us," he said adding Maggi was being taken  off the shelves till the situation is clarified


"We are trying to restore the confidence of our consumers in Maggi, our first priority is to address the consumers...We are taking this very seriously."

"I am confident Maggi Noodles will be back very soon," he said.


The Nestle chief said,  the company was "trying to learn" why there is a difference in test results carried out in other laboratories and ours."

"There is confusion about how you test...if we put them together, we can see why there is difference in test results," he said.


The Nestle CEO said India is important to the company. " We have been in India for over 100 years, we are a part of India. We are talking to the authorities. I don't think there is any problem there."

In a setback for the company on Thursday,  four more states- Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu joined Delhi in placing a temporary ban on Maggi Noodles.

Uttarakhand  banned the popular brand "till further notice". 

Gujarat as well as Jammu and Kashmir banned Maggi Noodles for a month. 

The Tamil Nadu government banned Maggi for three months after its tests found lead twice above the permissible limit, reports said.

According to market reports, Nestle shares dropped by 15 per cent since May 28  because of the controversy over Maggi.