Delhi slaps 15-day ban on Maggi

Delhi government today banned sale of Maggi noodles, the brand from Swiss foods major Nestle, for 15 days after it found lead and monosodium glutamate in the eatable beyond permissible limit, reports the times of India

"A fresh decision will be taken after 15 days, after re-checking the new Maggi stocks in government labs," Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain said in a press conference.

Ten out of 13 samples tested in Delhi for lead content in the popular food item were found to have amounts higher than permissible limits.

According to Times Now, the sale will be banned in all Delhi government stores including Kendriya Bhandar.

Meanwhile, FDA authority has asked the states to carry out tests on Maggi noodles.

"This falls under the category of misbranding," Delhi's health minister said. He added the government has decided to file a case against Nestle for selling unsafe product and fine it for misbranding Maggi noodles. Sources said Nestle officials will be summoned by the Delhi Government for explanation. When TOI tried to contact Nestle officials, their phones went unanswered.

Reports also suggest that taking cue from other states West Bengal has also sent the samples for testing.

Actors Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta could land in trouble if advertisements for Maggi noodles featuring them are found to be misleading, says the consumer affairs ministry.

Maggi brand ambassadors, including Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit, were on Monday "warned of action" by the government if their advertisements for Nestle's popular noodle product were found to be misleading.

Amitabh Bachchan has been quoted in a report as saying that he has not received any notice from the government over endorsing Maggi noodles. He says that he will fully cooperate with the law and adds that he had stopped endorsing the instant noodles' brand two years ago.

However, a Bihar court yesterday ordered the police to lodge an FIR against Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta -brand ambassadors of Nestle India -following a complaint filed in the court by a lawyer alleging that he fell ill after eating Maggi.

Adding to the filmstars' troubles in the ongoing Maggi row, the court asked the police to arrest them, if required.

The complainant, Sudheer Kumar Ojha said he filed the case against the film stars because they were "misusing" their popularity to publicise such "poisonous" eatables for economic gains. Their act has put the lives of innocent people at risk, he said.

While Bachchan said he no more endorses the brand, Madhuri Dixit recently met with Nestle officials and said the company has assured her about the quality of the product.

When asked about  action against Maggi brand ambassadors, consumer affairs ministry secretary G Gurucharan said, "Yes, they would be liable for action if the advertisements are found to be misleading, and it becomes a misleading advertisement if it is found that the product does not have the attributes that the manufacturer professed.

If the brand ambassador has promoted that product and said specifically that the product has those attributes, they are also certainly liable for action."

Bachchan said that he is extra cautious with his endorsements, and even has a special clause in his contract to protect himself.

The 72-year-old actor told a news channel: "I did check with Nestle, who make the product, whether this is all right and if they are sure... I even put a clause in my contract where I said that I hope you people defend me, legally, if something happens."

Madhuri Dixit took to twitter to explain that she met with the brand officials. "Nestle has reassured me that they adhere to stringent testing for quality and safety and are working with the authorities closely," she tweeted.