Maggi controversy: Nestle CEO, Paul Bulcke, assures 2-minute noodles are safe

New Delhi, June 5: Hours after Nestle India took Maggi noodles off the shelves in the country, company's global CEO, Paul Bulcke, on Friday said Maggi noodles are safe for consumption.

"Maggi noodles have been trusted in India for over 30 years. Maggi is safe for consumption, we have same quality standards everywhere in world," Bulcke told media persons today.

Bulcke admitted that the controversy has tainted the brand's reputation.

"This controversy has led to consumers losing trust in us, we do not put MSG in our products. With our consumers in mind, we shall work with the authorities to clear this situation out," Bulcke added.

Bulcke exuded confidence that Maggi will be back soon.

"Product quality and safety is of paramount priority to us. I am very confident that we will be back as soon as possible. That is our prime objective," he said.

Nestle India early on Friday said it was withdrawing Maggi noodles in the country amid nation-wide scrutiny over more-than-permissible limits of lead, but continued to maintain it was safe and that it would be back on store shelves soon.

Some governments like in Gujarat, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir had banned Maggi for 15-30 days and several others had called for tests on the popular noodles after a batch in a small town in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly found to contain higher-than-permissible levels of lead.

Following the concerns, a host of retailers -- from neighbourhood mom-and-pop shops to larger ones like Big Bazaar and WalMart -- withdrew it from their shelves.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)