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Maggi issue: Will food regulator move the Supreme Court?

August 18, 2015 15:54 IST

A roadside vendor selling maggi noodles

 

Industry experts and analysts feel the issue of the recall and ban of Maggi noodles in India is likely to be resolved in the next three to six months.

Will Maggi stage a comeback?

This is a million dollar question that's doing the rounds of consumers' minds as the food safety regulator reviews a court order that quashed the ban on Maggi.

The regulator, however, has not yet decided if it will challenge the order in Supreme Court.

Bombay High Court on August 13 quashed the orders of FSSAI and Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration banning nine variants of Maggi noodles in India.

The court had provided a conditional relief to the popular snack's manufacturer Nestle India as it ordered a fresh test of samples in three independent laboratories across India.

The question of Maggi’s return has been on people’s minds from the time it was banned two months ago in India, its largest market.

The company’s newly appointed Managing Director Suresh Narayanan had indicated soon after taking over that he was committed to getting Maggi back.

But to achieve that, Nestlé will have to first satisfy Bombay High Court that its product is safe.

Industry experts and analysts feel the issue of the recall and ban of Maggi noodles in India is likely to be resolved in the next three to six months.

Nestlé India has created a dedicated web page for the purpose and has tied up with surveymonkey, a website, seeking feedback from employees on how Maggi can be ‘rebuilt’.

This survey is not visible to outsiders. Employees have been encouraged to ask questions and raise doubts.

The relaunch is likely to see Nestlé India overhaul product packaging, as it seeks to mark a complete break from the past.

The company might also change its labelling to ensure it does not breach food safety norms.

Rediff Business Desk