Maggi comes under scanner in Karnataka

BENGALURU/MYSURU: The Karnataka government on Tuesday ordered tests on samples of Maggi noodles in the light of reports that they contain harmful chemicals. A decision on their sale will be taken on Friday. Health and family welfare minister UT Khader asked joint director, food safety and standards, H Shivakumar to conduct tests and submit a report within 48 hours. The minister cited the decision of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation to withdraw Maggi packs from its counters. Shivakumar said apart from Maggi, its rival brands, like Top Ramen and Surya, would be tested too. "By Friday evening, I should be able to submit a report to the government.'' The government is likely send samples to the Central Food and Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru. A source said samples manu8factured on different dates would be selected from various sources and sent to the research institute. CFTRI director Ram Rajasekharan said: "So far, we haven't got any notification on this from the government, but we are ready to do the tests if asked to." Nestle India has a noodle-manufacturing plant in Nanjangud, 23 km from Mysuru, set up at a cost of Rs 360 crore in 2011. The company's other plants are in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand. Commerce and industries commissioner Gaurav Gupta said: "As of now, the factory in Nanjangud is up and running. Clearances for it were given four years ago.'' The Karnataka government's move came even as a Bihar court ordered that FIRs be filed against actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta for endorsing Maggi through advertisements on television. -TOI