After Maggi, Top Ramen Withdrawn From Indian Market
After Maggi controversy, Indo Nissin on Monday announced withdrawal of its instant noodles brand ‘Top Ramen’ from the Indian market on orders from central food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The move comes in the wake of the controversy over Maggi noodles, after which the FSSAI had ordered the testing of all instant noodles, pastas and macaroni brands sold by seven companies to check compliance of norms. Earlier this month, Nestle had to recall Maggi noodles, while Hindustan Unilever also withdrew its Knorr instant noodles brand over safety and regulatory issues.
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On June 8, FSSAI had come out with the advisory on product safety testing of all instant noodle products in India after lead beyond permissible limits in Maggi noodles along with taste enhancer Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Top Ramen follows Maggi off the shelves:
“We had sought clarification from FSSAI since Top Ramen product approval is pending with the regulator. They have requested us to withdraw the product until they give the approval,” read a statement from Gautam Sharma, managing director of Indo Nissin Foods Pvt Ltd.
“We have tested at two FSSAI accredited independent laboratories and shared the results with FSSAI a few weeks ago. While many samples have been tested by various state FDAs across India, only in two cases, slightly higher lead level has been found in the tastemaker,” he said.
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Earlier this month, the regulator ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms. These include Nestle India, ITC, Indo Nissin Food Ltd, GSK Consumer Healthcare, CG Foods India, Ruchi International and AA Nutrition Ltd.
Nestle had destroyed Maggi noodles worth Rs 320 crore after the withdrawal. HUL also recalled its Chinese range of ‘Knorr’ instant noodles from the market pending product approval from FSSAI.