The governments of Goa and Karnataka have banned Maggi noodles from Monday until further notice despite results of sample tests conducted recently showed there was no excess lead or MSG in Nestle's controversial product.
While the Karnataka government stated that they were banning both sale and manufacture of Maggi noodles acting on the directives of national food watchdog Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Goa chief minister said that he does not want to take risk with people's lives.
"The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed us to temporarily stop Nestle India from manufacturing or selling its noodles, including variants, in the state as a precautionary measure to ensure public health," Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader told IANS.
"We have also directed the company (Nestle) to withdraw its Maggi stocks from all stores and retail formats across the state. Stringent action will be taken against offenders," Khader said.
Whereas Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who had on Friday given a clean chit to Maggi noodles, said that he could not risk people's lives in view of the reports emerging from other states, IANS reported.
"I feel it is not proper on my part to take risks with people's lives... Earlier, I was of the opinion to allow it to continue, but the way reports from other states are coming up, I feel it is not proper on my part to take risks with the lives of the natives," Parsekar told reporters in Mapusa.
"Maggi will be banned from Goa from Monday until further orders," Parsekar said.
FSSAI had declared the tests conducted by Goa and Karnataka "inappropriate" and imposed a nationwide ban on sale and manufacture of Maggi, asking Nestle to pull out all stocks of the noodles from market.
