FDA sends other brands' pasta, macaroni for testing

After the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order to test all brands of noodles, pasta and macaroni present in the market, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) started the process of gathering all the products for testing. It is taking the help of private laboratories recognised by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

FDA said not just the level of monosodium glutamate, it also needs to look into more than 10 parameters in these products. It's a time-consuming process and will take more than two weeks for the final reports, said an officer.

The move has come after the FSSAI came out with a list of the products, including noodles, pastas and macaroni (with Tastemaker), and sent it to all the state FDAs, asking them to conduct the relevant tests.

"We have started the work... besides taking the help of NABL-recognised private laboratories, we are also taking the help of the medical education laboratory. We have two labs of our own as well. This time, we have a number of parameters to check and, hence, need more time. In two weeks, we will come with the report," said Harshadeep Kamble, FDA commissioner.

"We are also planning to set up six more laboratories in different areas of the state."

The products of eight-odd firms are under scanner. The products include CG Foods India Pvt Ltd's three variants of Wai Wai noodles, Ruchi International's Koka Instant Noodles, ITC Ltd's three variants of Sunfeast Yippee noodles, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd's 10 variants of Foodles, Indo Nissin Food Ltd's Top Ramen Atta Masala and AA Nutrition Ltd's Yummy Chicken and vegetable noodles. Nestle India Ltd's macaroni and penne pasta offerings are also under observation.

The FDA will carry out a physical examination for mould, live and dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination (hair, excreta), and fungus visible to the naked eye. Test to check added natural colours and heavy metals (lead, copper, arsenic, mercury, cadmium and zinc) will also be done.