Faced with a fresh controversy, just after Maggi noodles hit the market, much to the consumer's delight, Nestle's Pasta has now landed in a soup after its samples, tested at Uttar Pradesh government-owned food testing laboratory, were found to be carrying lead beyond the permissible limits. Pasta samples collected from Nestle distributor, Sriji Traders, were sent to a government food testing laboratory in Lucknow, said Arvind Yadav, Designated Officer at Food and Drug Administration Mau.
He said, “After Maggi, the sample of macaroni pasta was taken from Mau and sent to the National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow in which the lead was found to be much more than the permissible limit. According to report received on September 2, they failed the tests.” Yadav added, “The standard limit is 2.5 PPM while it has been found to be 6 PPM. The letter informing the Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address has come back here undelivered. On the basis of the report this food product now comes under the 'unsafe food category'. The report has been sent to the FDA Commissioner on October 12 for sanction to lodge a case and in case it is received it will be filled in the court of the CJM here.”
“They (Nestle) were sent a letter over a month ago intimating them about the results. They had a month's time to appeal against the test but the letter sent by the FDA was not received by the company and was returned here,” Yadav said. District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivasatav also said, “The sample which has failed the test is of June and we will taken immediate action on the directives... we are in touch (with the authorities) on phone.”
Meanwhile, Nestle officials said its products are safe for consumption and are not aware of any tests done by the Uttar Pradesh government. “We are not aware of any analysis reports for Pazzta supposedly picked up from Sriji Traders,” said a Nestle India spokesperson. “The Pazzta manufactured by us is 100 % safe and there is absolutely no concern on lead. Therefore, we need to see the contents of reports and we also need to confirm whether these supposed tests have been conducted at FSSAI Notified and NABL accredited laboratory that has the expertise and is certified for testing lead under the Food Safety and Standards Act,” Nestle India said in a statement.
