After the controversy over lack of food safety standards detected in Maggi noodles grew bigger on Wednesday, the Central government filed a complaint against the product's manufacturer Nestle with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
Also, the Prime Minister's Office has reportedly called the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday for a briefing on the issue.
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said for the first time, the Centre was taking action under Section 12-1-D of the Consumer Protection Act. The NCDRC will investigate the matter, he added.
Paswan said that since there would be delay in getting report from the FSSAI, the government has decided to file a written complaint with the NCDRC, because consumers' health was at stake, IANS reports.
"If the FSSAI reports are found to be positive, it is a very serious issue," Paswan said.
On the allegations against the FSSAI, Paswan said that if a company violates food safety standards after getting licence, the food regulator can't be blamed.
"After getting licence, if someone does wrong and misleads the consumer, how can FSSAI be held responsible?" Paswan questioned.
The Delhi government on Wednesday banned the sale of Maggi noodles in the national capital after finding lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in quantity higher than the permissible limit.
This was followed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of India asked all state governments to conduct sample tests of the noodles.
Uttarakhand has banned the sale of Maggi noodles following samples of the product failing laboratory tests.
While several states have started sample testing procedures, some are awaiting results, which will further decide the fate of Nestle.
