Maggi fails lab test in UP, govt slaps Rs 45 lakh fine on Nestle India

Nestle India's popular noodles brand Maggi faces crisis yet again after the district administration of Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, slapped a fine of Rs 45 lakhs on the company.

The district authorities had collected samples of Maggi in November 2016 for testing and the batch has allegedly failed to pass the lab test even as the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) major maintained that "it's a case of application of incorrect standards".

The administration has imposed afine of Rs 45 lakh on Nestle, Rs 15 lakh on its three distributors and Rs 11 lakh on its two sellers.

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Questioning the lab findings, Nestle India said it has not received the order yet and would file an appeal urgently once it receives the order.

A Nestle India spokesperson said, "While we have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer, we have been informed that the samples are of the year 2015 and the issue pertains to ‘ash content’ in Noodles."

He added, "This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order."

In 2015, Nestle India and other companies had represented to the relevant authorities, via industry associations, to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion among enforcement officers and consumers.

“The standards have since been introduced and the product complies with these standards. We regret the confusion it may cause to consumers,” he said, adding that “We strongly reiterate that Maggi Noodles are 100% safe for consumption.”

Maggi was banned byFood Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in June 2015 for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible limits, forcing Nestle India to withdraw the product from the market.