Delhi govt finds Maggi samples 'unsafe', warns of strict action against Nestle

This comes after the Delhi government has said samples that it tested were found "unsafe".

According to reports, the Delhi government officials said high lead levels were detected in 10 out of 13 packets of Maggi noodles tested from around the National Capital Region.

They said a committee is expected to be set up to look into the issue once a detailed report is out.

Even Kerala has ordered a pullout of Maggi noodles from government-run outlets.

The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation said the ban has been imposed "in the light of reports on the presence of some chemicals which are hazardous to human health."

In Bihar, acting on a petition filed by a lawyer, a court has directed that an FIR be registered against Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, who have featured in Maggi noodle advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nestle India has claimed that extensive testing reveals no excess lead in Maggi Noodles.

"We understand that consumers are concerned by reports that the authorities in Uttar Pradesh have found elevated levels of lead in a sample pack of MAGGI Noodles. We are fully cooperating with the authorities who are conducting further tests and we are awaiting their results," the company said in a statement.

The company said it has also submitted samples of the noodles from almost 600 product batches to an external laboratory for independent analysis.

"We have also submitted samples of MAGGI Noodles from almost 600 product batches to an external laboratory for independent analysis and we tested samples from almost 1,000 batches at our accredited laboratory," it said.

"These samples represent around 125 million [12.5 Crore] packets. All the results of these internal and external tests show that lead levels are well within the limits specified by food regulations and that MAGGI noodles are safe to eat. We are sharing these results with the authorities, Nestle India stated.

"We regularly monitor all our raw material for lead, including testing by accredited laboratories which have consistently shown levels in MAGGI Noodles to be within permissible limits," the company claimed.

"In addition, we remain committed to continuing to improve the quality of agricultural raw materials across the food chain working with farmers, suppliers, authorities and the food industry to ensure food safety. The quality and safety of our products are the top priorities for our Company," it added.