Maggi noodles ban: As it happened on Friday

Announcing the withdrawal of Maggi noodles across India after charges of more-than-permissible levels of some substances, Nestle's global chief executive Paul Bulcke on Friday asserted the popular snack was safe, passing every independent test ordered by the company.

Zee Media Bureau/Irengbam Jenny/Salome Phelamei

• Assam government on Friday bans sale of Maggi Xtra chicken noodles marketed by Nestle India in the state for 30 days.
• FIR filed against Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Preity Zinta for endorsing Maggi in Bihar.
• Sikkim government on Friday sends Maggi samples for tests to Guwahati amid a row over high quantity of lead and MSG in the popular snack. 
• Two days after giving it a thumps up, Goa will send Maggi noodles samples to a Karnataka-based government laboratory for tests for the third time.
• The Kerala government to send all instant noodles samples in the state for laboratory test.

• A day after the Jammu and Kashmir Government imposed a ban on Maggi noodles, authorities seize 80 cartons of the popular snack in Pulwama.
• Nine out of 15 Maggi samples tested in the laboratories show lead is within permissible limits: Maharashtra FDA
• In a relief of sorts for beleaguered multinational Nestle, its popular Maggi 2-minute noodles passes laboratory tests in Maharashtra​.
• Mizoram government to take decision on Maggi noodles after receiving directions from ​FSSAI.
• Uttarakhand High Court asks state government to reply within 15 days on why Maggi noodles was banned in the state.
• Nestle moves High Court against Uttarakhand government's 3-month ban on Maggi.
• Action will be taken against those who endorse Maggi: YS Malik, FSSAI CEO

• West Bengal ​Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refuses to ban Maggi, says no objectionable material found in noodles in her state after laboratory test.
• Reliance Retail removes all 11 instant noodle brands from its 2,621 stores in more than 200 cities.
• Nepal imposes indefinite ban on selling and importing of Maggi noodles

• After reports from various state governments, we have concluded that FSSAI standards haven't been met by Maggi: JP Nadda
• 9 variants of Maggi Noodles found unsafe have to be withdrawn from the market: JP Nadda
• No compromise on food safety will be done, all levels of food security will be adhered to: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Maggi issue 
• FSSAI serves showcause notice to Nestle, asks it reply within 15 days as to why the product approval given to it on the nine noodle variants should not be withdrawn.
• Britain's Food Standards Agency to see if Maggi packs sold in UK have high levels of lead as found in that in India.
• UK begins testing Maggi for high lead content.
• Telangana Government is awaiting results of the tests conducted on popular instant noodles 'Maggi' for taking a call on initiating a ban.

• States have rights to ban Maggi if found harmful: Ram Vilas Paswan
• Celebrities who endorse Maggi do it because of our work. If they will face any issue we will support them: Nestle India
• FSSAI says Nestle violated labelling regulations on taste enhancer 'MSG', asks company to submit compliance report on orders within 3 days
• Misleading labeling on Maggi packs reading ' No added MSG': FSSAI
• Nestle needs to stop sale, production and import of Maggi immediately: FSSAI
• Lead detected in Maggi in excess of permissible levels: FSSAI
• Nestle launched 'Maggi Oats Masala Noodles' without product approval and without undertaking risk, safety assessment: FSSAI
• Nine Maggi variants unsafe and hazardous for consumption: FSSAI
• Central food safety regulator FSSAI orders Nestle to recall nine variants of Maggi instant noodles from market

• No MSG would be removed from the label: Bulcke
• We found that trust of the consumers has been shaken: Bulcke
• Some quality standards and methods used throughout the world: Bulcke
• We are taking Maggi Noodles off the shelves till the situation is clarified: Bulcke
• Maggi taken off Indian market due to concerns raised by authorities, says Bulcke
• Nestle results show lead below allowed limits, says Bulcke
• Our priority is to clarify on safety of product to authorities and be back on shelves as soon as possible: Nestle CEO
• The trust of consumers and the safety of our products is our priority: Bulcke
• No lead found in 1,000 Maggi batches tested internally: Nestle CEO
• Unfortunate recent developments had led to confusion​, says Bulcke
• Maggi adheres to same quality standards in India and across the world: Bulcke
• We don't have data from any of the third party tests conducted on Maggi: Bulcke
• Maggi noodles banned in Bihar for 30 days.

• Maggi noodles are trusted in India for over 30 years: Bulcke
• Maggi noodles in India are safe for consumption: Bulcke

• Some ingredients sourced for Maggi may have had MSD added, says Bulcke
• ​We do not add MSD in Maggi, says Bulcke
• Maggi withdrawn due to confusion, says Bulcke
• Nestle Global CEO Paul Bulcke addresses a press conference on controversy surrounding the Maggi in Delhi
• Maggi noodles banned in Madhya Pradesh till further order

• The Prime Minister's Office seeks report on Maggi issue, holds meet with the Union Health Secretary BP Sharma to discuss the matter.
• Importers in Singapore have been ordered to withhold the sales of Nestle`s Maggi instant noodles produced in India until test results on its quality are out.
• Singapore has banned the sale of Maggi brand of instant noodles produced in India: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore

• We are waiting for the reports and we shall take action accordingly: Anil Vij, Health Minister of Haryana, on Maggi issue
• Reports are expected today, total 15 samples are being tested: Annapure, Joint Commissioner Food & Drug Department of Mumbai, on Maggi issue

• Investigation underway, reports to come in this week: Delhi Health Minister
• Nine sample pieces of instant noodles of various brands have been picked up in Delhi for testing, says Health Minister Satyendra Jain
• The Prime Minister's Office seeks report on Maggi issue, summons Union Health Secretary
• After India, UK and Nepal will test Maggi noodles
• Nestle Global CEO Paul Bulcke to address media on the ongoing issue of Maggi noodles today in Delhi

Earlier development:

Uttarakhand, Gujarat,Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday joined Delhi in banning Maggi noodles as Nestle India, the manufacturer of the popular snack, continued to face countrywide scrutiny following lab reports that samples of the snack had excess quantity of lead.

On its part, Nestle India said tests done in a laboratory in Kolkata showed that the lead content in Maggi was within the limits prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Facing the heat, Nestle India presented on its website the results of tests of its samples at some food laboratories.

"We regularly monitor all our raw materials for lead, including testing by accredited laboratories. These results have consistently shown lead in Maggi to be within safe limits," Nestle India said on its website.

It said test reports revealed that less than 0.05 milligrams of lead was present per kg while the maximum permissible level was 2.5.

"We are confident that our Maggi noodle products in India and elsewhere are absolutely safer for consumption," it said.

On the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG), which the product label says "No added MSG", Nestle stated: "We do not add the flavour enhancer MSG (E621) to Maggi noodles."

The Nepal government had also decided to impose a ban on importing and selling of Maggi noodles in its market for an undefined period following the controversy.

In Shimla, union Health Minister J.P. Nadda told reporters that the central government has sought reports from all states on the controversy over the quality of Maggi noodles.

In Ahmedabad, union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he had asked his department as also the FSSAI to look into the facts following the controversy.

He said safety had been ordered on Maggi and any action would be taken after test reports were in.

The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) of FSSAI also met in the capital to discuss reports of excessive lead in Maggi.

Following the concerns, a host of retailers -- from neighbourhood mom-and-pop shops to larger ones like Big Bazaar and WalMart -- withdrew it from their shelves.