By Mubasshir Mushtaq
MUMBAI, India
An Indian court reversed a ban of Nestle's popular Maggi brand of instant noodles after it was taken off shelves for health reasons three months ago.
The Bombay High Court bench struck down the ban imposed by food safety authorities but asked the company to submit samples of all its noodles for testing.
The court said the food safety agency did not follow proper procedures before the ban and that the tests which found dangerous level of lead were not performed at “accredited laboratories.”
Alongside lead, tests conducted in June also found excessive levels of the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate.
Nestle contended that tests conducted at laboratories in the U.K., Australia and Singapore found lead levels within the permissible limit.
The company was asked to destroy all of its existing stocks of Maggi noodles, which reportedly cost it millions of Indian rupees.
The health scare shocked India because of the widespread popularity of Maggi noodles, where it is the leading brand. It is also popular worldwide, especially in Asia.
Nestle’s shares rose by 6 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the court ruling.
