FSSAI widens Maggi probe to 8 more brands

On Monday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ordered test of a host of other noodle brands. FSSAI recalled Ruchi International's Koka Noodles, CG Food India Private Ltd's Wai Wai noodles, Glaxosmithekline Consumer Healthcare Ltd's Foodles noodles and seasoning, Nestle India's Pazzta and tastemakers, AA Nutrition's Yummy Noodles, Indo Nissin Food Ltd's Top Ramen Atta Noodles, ITC's Instant noodles, and ordered test results to be submitted by June 19.

The parameters to be tested include physical examination (for moulds, hair, excreta, etc), rancidity, colours, moisture, preservatives, lead copper, arsenic, mercury, total ash excluding salt, etc.

"Various test results on Maggi and some other similar products have raised serious health concerns. In view of the same, it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by the FSSAI," read the directive sent by CEO YS Malik to all state FSSAI commissioners. "The safety of all other such products in these categories has not been assessed as per the Product Approval procedures. As such, the same are unauthorised and illegal and cannot be intended for human consumption."

However, what the FSSAI did not ask for a test into was the high levels of salt in these brands. The amount of salt we eat has a direct effect on blood pressure levels and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The guidelines laid by the National Institute of Nutrition recommend that the daily intake of salt of a person should not be more than 6 gm in a day. The WHO, on the other hand, recommends 5g. In India, the daily consumption of salt hovers between 9 gm and 12 gm, says WHO.

As per section 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Regulations 2011, laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the requisite nutritional information to be put on the label of a food product must include energy value, protein, carbohydrate, sugar, fat, vitamins and minerals. It does not mention salt.

Nutritionist K Damayanthi of the National Institute of Nutrition says that it is mandatory to carry details of saturated fats, sodium and major nutritional details like energy, carbohydrates and fats. "Processed food require a lot of chemicals like sodium, which is very harmful. The permissible limit of common salt should not cross 6 gm per day for a person, with not more than 40% of that being sodium," says Damayanthi. She said that low-sodium salt brands are not far behind in salt content. "The percentage of sodium of these so-called low-sodium brands is usually only 15% out of these 40%."

A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) conducted on 23 junk food items in 2012, found that the highest salt content was present in instant noodles, with Maggi Masala sample topping the list at 4.2g per 100g; while Top Ramen, with 3.2g, was second. Popular potato chips brands were found to have 1.2 to 3.5 g of salt per 100 g.

The study, called nutritional analysis of junk food, concluded that, "consumption of a packet of instant noodles, therefore, will cover about half of the daily salt quota. Salt content was not given by companies on the label.

There should an all India action plan to reduce salt in diets and junk food companies should be asked to label salt quantity of their package."

"The issue is quite simple -- it lies with regulation. If FSSAI does not make it mandatory, there is a huge gap there. The law is inadequate," said Amit Khurana, programme manager of food, toxins and manager at CSE.

Damayanthi says that the prevalence of a huge unorganised sector increases the problem. "The usual road-side food joint is run by people who barely have knowledge of salt intake. Who will tell them," she says.

—with inputs by Charitha Annabathula