Nestle India: 3 labs clear Maggi samples in lead test

Nestle India Ltd., on Friday said three laboratories that tested the samples of Maggi noodles packets as per the Mumbai High Court order have said the tests are clear and the lead content is much below the permissible limits.

“All the 90 samples, covering six variants, tested by these laboratories are clear with lead much below the permissible limits,” Nestle India said in a filing to the stock exchanges.

At the same time, Nestle India said it would continue to cooperate with the Food Safety and Standards Authority, the apex food regulator and other compliance bodies.

“We will now commence manufacture and will start selling only after the newly manufactured products are also cleared by the designated three laboratories,” it said, adding that this is in compliance with the Bombay High Court order.

The FSSAI had banned manufacture and sale Maggi noodles after it said it found contents of lead above levels that humans can consume, following another order to recall packets by a regulator in Uttar Pradesh state. The company has challenged the ban.

Meanwhile, Nestle SA, the Switzerland-based parent company of Nestle India, on Friday, cut its full year outlook, as sales declined because of the Maggi recall in India, and a rebate adjustment in its Nestle Skin Health business in the USA.