Odisha Governtment bans sale of Maggi noodles in state

The Odisha government on Monday banned sale of Maggi noodles in the state after samples collected from different places were found to be containing MSG.

"The state government today banned sale of Maggi noodles on the basis of laboratory test report which confirmed presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond the permissible limit," Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak told reporters here.

The minister said that the health department issued direction to all district collectors to ensure that no Maggi noodle is sold anywhere in the state.

Though the state government is yet to receive reports from the the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-recognised Central Food Laboratory at Pune, it acted on the report of the State Public Health Laboratory which confirmed presence of MSG.

"The action taken is based on the state public health laboratory's test report. The Pune laboratory has been assigned to detect presence of lead in maggi noodles if any," the minister said, adding the Centre has also specific guideline for use of noodles.

"MSG has been found in the samples of Maggi noodles tested in state public health laboratory. Accordingly, the decision is taken to ban all variants of Maggi noodles in the state with immediate effect," Health Secretary Arti Ahuja said in a letter to all district collectors.

The minister said ealier 25 Maggi noodles samples from 14 districts were sent to Pune after questions were raised on the instant food's hygeinic contents.