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Results of samples of brands like Knorr, Ching's and Horlicks foodles procured for testing last year in the month of May from the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh and delayed allegedly due to Panchayat elections, were found to contain ash above permissible limits by the Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Sanjay Singh, food safety officer, Barabanki district, stated, “Last year, in the month of May, apex regulator FSSAI had directed that all the noodles brands should be tested as some samples were found with high Lead content and monosodium glutamate (MSG) above the prescribed permissible limits.”
He added, “The samples collected from areas of Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh were sent for testing and examination in the month of May last year at the Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow. The lab results show presence of ash content in procured samples to be more than 1 per cent, which is above prescribed permissible limits as per the FSS Act. The ash was found in the tastemaker packet of the noodles products. Brands like Knorr Soupy Noodles, Horlicks Foodles Noodles and Ching's Hot Garlic Instant Noodles were found to be substandard with regards to the results from the lab.”
Singh informed, “The notices in this regard are sent to the three companies around a week ago. The companies have been given a month's time to make an appeal for reconsideration or retests of the samples.”
With regard to the delay in obtaining results from the laboratory, Singh said, “The usual time prescribed in the Act is of 15 days but the delay in the results may be due to the village council (Panchayat) elections in region. Many officers from the department were posted on election duty for five months.”
The samples of these brands were sent to the laboratory on May 30, 2015. Initially, the laboratory gave its results on Maggi samples procured from the region. “It was found that the Maggi noodles samples were positive with Lead and MSG. In reaction to this, FSSAI directed tests of other noodles brands too where in total five brands were under scanner - Nestle Maggi, Sunfeast Yippee noodles, Horlicks foodles noodles, Ching's Hot Garlic Instant Noodles and Knorr soupy noodles,” stated Singh.
Laboratory results did not include Maggi as after the testing was carried out, those that were pertaining to the brand were provided to the High Court for case referral.