We're off shelves but Maggi noodles are safe: Nestle CEO
New Delhi, June 5 Announcing the withdrawal of Maggi noodles across India after charges of more-than-permissible levels of some substances, Nestle's global chief executive Paul Bulcke on Friday asserted the popular snack was safe, passing every independent test ordered by the company.
"The product, Maggi noodles, are safe for consumption," Bulcke told press conference here. "Our priority now is to engage all stakeholders to clarify the confusion. We felt that consumer trust was shaken, that's why we took the product off the shelves."
Conceding that the trust the brand has enjoyed in India for over 30 years had been "temporarily shaken", the top official said there was no difference in quality standards which Nestle adopts across the globe -- and that tests on the very same norms had proved the product's safety.
"The tests we have done found no lead. So we are trying to engage with the authorities regarding the test methods they have used," he said, adding: "Our safety measures and standards are same all over the world."
The press conference was called following some state governments banning Maggi for 15-30 days and many calling for tests on the popular noodles. This was after a batch in a small town in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly found to contain higher-than-permissible levels of lead.
There were also charges of high levels of monosodium glutamate.
The Nestle chief executive also maintained that the authorites in India had not shared with the company the methodology that they had adopted to test the batches of noodles. He had on Thursday given a representation to the watchdog, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
"Maggi noodles are completely safe and have been trusted in India for over 30 years. The trust of our consumers and the safety of our products is our first priority," he said.
Food safety watchdog orders all Maggi variants off shelves
New Delhi, June 5 India's food safety watchdog on Friday ordered all the nine variants Maggi noodles to be "withdrawn and recalled" by Nestle and stop further production and exports, since some samples were found to be "hazardous" for human consumption.
It has also asked the company to show-cause within 15 days as to why the approval to the firm for the nine variants of "instant noodles with tastemaker" given on July 4, 2013 should not be withdrawn.
The order was issued after the company representatives were given a hearing on Thursday at the office of the authority to seek their responses on what steps Nestle had taken to comply with the safety norms prescribed by the food safety authority.
The Nestle team was led by its global chief executive Paul Bulcke and Etienne Benet, managing director and chief executive of India operations.
