Maggi controversy: Action sure if samples found unsafe, says Paswan

Ahmedabad: Amid the troubles faced by food giant Nestle's Maggi noodles, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said action against the product and people endorsing it will be taken if samples are found unsafe for consumption.

"When I came to know about Maggi issue I directed the department and the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to look into the facts and initiate action," Paswan told reporters here.

"Apart from the department, I have directed National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to initiate action immediately because this is a serious issue," he said.

Besides, the people who are endorsing the brand are also liable to face action, added Paswan.

"The action can be take under Consumer Protection Act's section 12 (1)(d) by NCDRC and section 53 by FSSAI ," the minister said.

"As far as Maggi is concerned, it comes under the jurisdiction of states and different states including Delhi have initiated action against it," Paswan said.

"I have also got to know that Gujarat had also sent samples for laboratory testing", he said.

Paswan said this is the first ever case in India that the issue of substandard and unsafe food was being referred to the commission.

"We will bring some stringent provisions in consumer protection act especially in the case of misleading advertisements and e-shopping issues", he said.

Yesterday, Delhi banned sale of Maggi for 15 days while Uttarakhand and Gujarat today banned its sale. Several other states have taken its samples for laboratory tests.

Maggi's sale was also stopped in Big Bazaar outlets. Over 1,000 army and navy canteens were asked to keep aside existing stocks of the popular snack Maggi noodles until further orders.

On May 30, a case was lodged against Nestle India in Barabanki court over safety standards of its Maggi product, while actors Amitabh Bachhan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have also been separately dragged to the court for promoting the 'two-minute' noodles brand.

Nestle India has claimed it has got samples tested in an external laboratory as well as in-house and that the product was found "safe to eat".