Maggi aftermath- now imported food products come under the scanner

Starbucks, and Kellogg’s facing ban in the market for few line of products

In what can be viewed as clear row over the Maggi lead fiasco, the national food regulator FSSAI handed over to state officials, a blacklist of around 500 products that failed to get their safety standard approvals; found to be containing high levels of heavy metals, caffeine and iron fillings in most cases. The list contains at least 32 products from Tata Starbucks, a cereal from Kellogg’s, poultry products from Venky’s and even a multivitamin from Ranbaxy.

The development comes at the peak hour, after the Swiss Food conglomerate Nestle came under the lens of legal authorities in India, as a result of which Maggi has been recalled across all major metros and cities of India. However, Singapore, which is believed to have the most stringent rules of hygiene, has permitted sale on India-made maggi noodles after a green signal from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. The laboratory showed the instant noodle to be of edible quality, and at par with local food safety standards of Singapore. These results were uniform for Maggi across other countries as well.

Imported food products such as gourmet cheese, cocoa butter, olive oil, oats, sauces, chocolates and crispies, are now under the direct command of the FSSAI. The regulatory body has issued notices to the state regulators, to carry stringent test for such products; to confirm the ingredients these items contain are as per the labeling on the package. This step is in consideration of helping the consumers make an informed choice of the products they wish to consume; which the labeling of the product should deliver, as promised to the customers.

Clearly, this declaration by the regulatory body has not meant or intended to withdraw the product from the shelves or take any immediate recall measure. However, the authority has expressed displeasure that some of these products are still being produced, distributed and sold in the market.

In another notable development, the FMCG Giant, HUL has recalled its Knorr Chinese brand of instant noodles now, pending product approval from the FSSAI-in consideration since February 2015. Seems the whole category is under fire, with FSSAI taking cognizance of the situation, and believed to have issued a directive to test as many brands of noodles, pastas, and macaronis-under the suspicion of unwarranted chemicals substance in such foods.