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Maharashtra FDA to do own testing of Maggi; collects 6 samples from city, Nagpur

State FDA officials have collected up to six samples of Maggi noodles from shops across Mumbai and Nagpur. "They have been sent to FDA labs. We are expecting the test reports in a couple of days," said Harshadeep Kamble, state FDA commissioner.

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Up to 17.2 ppm lead has been detected in Maggi noodles
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That the all-time favourite Maggi noodles may contain high levels of toxic lead has sent ripples of shock across India. Following the uproar in Uttar Pradesh, after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials in Lucknow called for a ban on the snack manufactured by Nestle India, Maharashtra government too has swung into action.

State FDA officials have collected up to six samples of Maggi noodles from shops across Mumbai and Nagpur. "They have been sent to FDA labs. We are expecting the test reports in a couple of days," said Harshadeep Kamble, state FDA commissioner.

Another official said, "We have decided to conduct our own checks as we cannot rely on other state's report."

Over seven times the permissible limit of Monosodium Glutamate, a taste enhancer, was found in Maggi noodles' samples that were tested in Uttar Pradesh's state food laboratory and eventually at the central food laboratory in Kolkata.

Following these revelations, Nestle had issued a statement, saying MSG was not deliberately added in the noodles and that it may be naturally occurring.

"It will be ascertained if MSG is added or is occurring through natural sources. While MSG is allowed in food products, it should be mentioned on the packet prominently. Also, foods containing MSG cannot be consumed by children up to the age of 12 months. This should also be declared on the label, something that Nestle has failed to do," said the FDA official.

Elemental lead has been detected in Maggi noodles to up to 17.2 parts per million (ppm); the permissible limit, FDA officials from Uttar Pradesh said, was up to 2.5 ppm. "Lead is a dangerous element. It causes serious health problems, including kidney failure, if it enters the body in high quantities," said a food safety officer from Barabanki in UP, who is a part of the team that conducted the raids and testing.

What is Monosodium Glutamate?
MSG is a naturally occurring amino acid which can be added to manufactured food for enhancing flavour. If additional MSG is added to a food product, this needs to be declared on the food packet.

What is lead?
Lead is a metal belonging to the carbon group. If ingested, lead is poisonous to animals and humans, damaging the nervous system and causing brain disorders. Excessive lead also causes blood disorders in mammals. Lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates both in soft tissues and the bones. It causes abdominal pain if ingested over a long time.

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