Maggie goes off Supplyco shelves in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Supplyco has stopped the sale of Maggi noodles in Kerala following the reports that its ingredients contain dangerous levels of Mono Sodium Glutamate. The decision to stop the sales also follows the instruction given by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob.

The sales of noodles have been withdrawn from around 1500 Supplyco outlets in the State. Maggie manufacturers Nestle has also been asked to take back the leftover Maggie packets in the Supplyco outlets.   

In Kerala, there have been no reports of Maggie eaters falling sick. Nevertheless, the State Food Ministry’s decision to ban the sale is said to be a precautionary measure. 

It was in the Maggie sold in Uttar Pradesh, Sodium Glutamate level was seen at an alarming level. The Muzaffar Nagar court ordered legal action against Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta who had acted in ads endorsing the food item. 

Meanwhile, Nestle in its new statement has said that Sodium Glutamate particles were added in the ingredients at permitted level. The company said that 600 Maggie packets were tested in foreign labs and none of the tests could found  non-permissible levels of glutamate in the packets. The company added that  the results of the tests conducted on June 1 have been sent to the persons concerned.   

Following complaints on Maggie, its sales dropped to 40 per cent in Bangalore, 30 per cent in Kolkata and 51 pc in Ahmedabad.