Maggi back on shelves despite ban in Uttarakhand

Nestle’s Maggi noodles made a comeback in many stores in the state, despite a blanket ban imposed on its production as well as on the marketing and sale of the product.

Nestle’s Maggi noodles made a comeback in many stores in the state, despite a blanket ban imposed on its production as well as on the marketing and sale of the product.

Nestle’s Maggi noodles made a comeback in many stores in the state, despite a blanket ban imposed on its production as well as on the marketing and sale of the product. (PTI photo)

The state was left disappointed last week when Maggi made a comeback in 100 towns in the country, barring Uttarakhand, five months after it was banned due to alleged presence of excessive lead content.

However, 52-year-old Shivendra Singh was seen purchasing some 12 odd packets of Maggi noodles at a departmental store run by Bharti Retail Ltd in Dehradun. He was clueless whether ban on Maggi continued in the state or not.

Similarly Rekha, a sales executive with the store, was also unaware on the issue. “Maggi came to our store on Friday and people are purchasing it in large numbers,” she told HT.

Hindustan Times tried to contact Bharti Retail Ltd but it did not respond.

The Maggi noodles which have been made available in the capital are being manufactured at Nestle’s Moga plant in Punjab.

Nearly five months ago, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) Lucknow found a few samples of Maggi noodles to have lead beyond permissible limits which led to many states, including Uttarakhand, banning the product.

Nestle then challenged state government’s decision in the Nainital High Court and the case is still sub judice.

Himachal and Uttarakhand have not lifted the ban since then and Nestle, in a statement, said it was following up with the concerned state governments.

“We have not given a green signal to Nestle. Let me check with the officials on how Maggi is available in the state. We have already referred to law department to take a decision (on lifting ban),” said SS Negi, health minister.

BR Tamta, joint commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, was equally clueless. He said the department will look into the matter.