Maggi row: Karnataka's decision to test other brands welcomed

Bengaluru, Jun 5: Maggi Noodles has been in the news since the past couple of days for alleged lapses in food security standards. While it seems that the entire focus is only on Maggi Noodles, the Karnataka government has said that it will test all other noodles as well.

The move by Karnataka's health minister, U T Khader to test the samples of all other noodles is being seen as a welcome move by many.

The minister, Khader says that in the interest of people's health it is important that samples of other noodle companies too are taken and tested. Khader informed that the health of the people and not just one company is important.

Karnataka to lift samples randomly:

While the current focus is on getting the Maggi samples tested, the Karnataka government is also taking samples of noodles manufactured by other companies as well and having them tested. The government of Karnataka feels that the aim should not be to target just one company. While all steps have been taken to test Maggi, there will also be testing of other brands manufacturing noodles as well, the Health Minister says.

The minister also said that he is discussing the issue and the testing of other samples too needs to be done. The issue is not about just one company, but the overall security of the people. It would not be justified if the samples of just one company is tested while other brands continue to manufacture noodles which do not meet the food security standards, the Karnataka government feels.

The CFTRI battle:

The Karnataka government is in touch with other states on this issue. There are four Maggi manufacturing units in Karnataka. Samples had been collected and sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru. The CFTRI however refused to receive the samples saying it was a legal matter.

Khader has said that he would write to the Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan and Health Minister JP Nadda, on CFTRI's refusal to receive the samples for testing. I will discuss the matter with my food safety officials, he also informed.
Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, in a statement said as per the notification by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka falls under Central Food Laboratory in Kolkata.

"The jurisdiction of the referral laboratory as per the gazette notification by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (FSSAI) dated December 2, 2014, the samples drawn from the state of Karnataka falls under the jurisdiction of Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata.

"The state of Karnataka falls under the jurisdiction of Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata. As per the notification, Referral Food Laboratory, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, jurisdiction will be for the states of Bihar, Goa, Delhi, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Union Territories of Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry," the CFTRI also stated.

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