adminIndia’s government is seeking damages of nearly $100m from Nestle India for “unfair trade practices” after the food safety regulator banned its hugely popular Maggi noodles brand in June for containing unsafe levels of lead. The government said yesterday that it has filed a suit with the country’s top consumer court, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), for 6,400 million rupees ($98.6m) in damages from the Indian arm of the Swiss food giant.
“Our complaint is over their unfair trade practices and the court will now issue them notices to hear their response,” G Gurcharan, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, said.
In April, laboratory tests ordered by some state governments found the noodles contained far higher levels of lead than legally allowed. The tests also detected the flavour enhancer chemical monosodium glutamate, or MSG, which is not mentioned in the product’s list of ingredients.
A Nestle India spokesman said the company had not yet received official notice about the complaint with the NCDRC, a semi-judicial body that has the power to fine companies.
“We shall be able to provide substantive response after we receive the official papers,” said Himanshu Manglik. — AP
Online Reporter