Products manufactured by seven companies come under FSSAI scanner. (Source: AP) Products manufactured by seven companies come under FSSAI scanner. (Source: AP)

Days after all nine varieties of Maggi noodles were pulled off the shelves by its parent company Nestle, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked all states to test samples of all approved noodles, pasta and macaroni available in the market.

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A total of 33 varieties — including the nine Maggi noodles varieties — of packaged food items in this category have FSSAI approval. Brands in the market that do not have approval are to be confiscated and destroyed, Y S Malik, chief executive officer of FSSAI, told the food safety commissioners of all states in a letter Monday.

The FSSAI has also mentioned testing parameters and asked the states to send their reports by June 19.

The approved items are Koka Instant Noodles of Ruchi International, three varieties of Wai Wai by C G Foods India Pvt Ltd, 10 varieties of Foodles manufactured by Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Healthcare Limited, four varieties of Maggi Nutrilicious Pazzta with Tastemaker manufactured by Nestle, two varieties of Yummy noodles by A A Nutrition Limited, Top Ramen Atta Masala Noodles by Indo Nissin Food Limited, three varieties of Instant Noodles by ITC and the now withdrawn nine varieties of Maggi.

“You are advised to draw samples of the food products… and take action as per provisions of the FSS Act and other applicable laws (including IPC) qua the food items not found conforming to the applicable standards. As for all the remaining food products… you are advised to ensure that such products are recalled, removed from the market and destroyed,” Malik said in the letter dated June 8.

So far, the focus of food inspection in the country has largely been on items that are sold loose, like milk, paneer, etc. It is usually assumed that packaged food items are safe — primarily because the food safety apparatus of most states don’t have enough employees to monitor all such products. But the Maggi row appears to have changed that.

The FSSAI is now planning to ask states to identify items of mass consumption that should be regularly tested. Moreover, pending with the office of the health minister is a plan to revamp the FSSAI by increasing its manpower and putting in place a structure to ensure that enforcement is not just the states’ prerogative. The FSSAI currently has its own checking staff in only 16 locations in five cities.

According to Monday’s advisory, samples are to be checked for mould, rancidity, synthetic colours, preservatives and anti-oxidants. Presence of any of these would mean the product is unfit for human consumption.

The body has also reiterated the specifications for various other parameters, such as moisture, ash and nitrogen content as well as acceptable levels of contaminants like lead, copper, etc.

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