Eight samples of other noodle brands fail safety test in New Delhi

Top Ramen under scanner

Eight out of 12 samples of noodles other than Maggi have failed the Delhi government’s Food Department’s test.

The department had conducted analysis of samples of other brands of noodles, including Top Ramen, Ching's, Foodles and Tops, lifted from various parts of the national capital.

“Of the six samples of Top Ramen, five samples did not mention containing monosodium glutamate (MSG). This falls under misbranding. Two samples of Ching's also did not have MSG mentioned on their products. The Foodles sample's lead level was beyond permissible limits,” said Food Safety Department Commissioner K K Jindal. MSG is a taste enhancer.  “The reports will be sent to the concerned authorities on Monday. We will take action accordingly,” said Jindal.

If the reports are contested, the lab test results will be sent to referral labs designated to carry out further tests of the samples.     The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, provides a list of food products that should not have flavour enhancers like MSG. Also, the company needs to declare in labels that the products contain MSG, if they do.  The Delhi government had banned Maggi noodles on June 3 in the capital after increased levels of lead and presence of MSG without proper labelling were detected in samples of Maggi.

The government had also ordered the sample testing of other brands of noodles the same day.  Of the 13 Maggi noodle packets lifted for sampling then, analysis had found that 10 masala samples contained lead exceeding the prescribed limit of 2.5 parts per million (ppm).  Following this, the government had directed Nestle India to recall all stocks within 15 days.