India: Nestle to resume export of Maggi instant noodles

India: Nestle to resume export of Maggi instant noodles

Nestle India is to resume exports of its Maggi instant noodle line following a ruling from the Bombay High Court.

Last month, Maggi noodles were banned in India by the central food safety regulator FSSAI after the discovery of lead in excess of permissible limits, as well as flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate, in a routine test.

The company has now been given the go-ahead to resume exports of Maggi noodles to global markets such as Canada, the UK, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand after having been cleared for consumption by their respective food safety regulators. However, the ban on sales is set to continue in the domestic market.

The Economic Times reports that the Maggi ban has also affected credibility and goodwill in relation to other market players in the category with sales in India dipping by 10% in the last two months. Instant noodle sales have reportedly declined by 80%, with Unilever and Indo Nissin removing from sale Knorr and Top Ramen branded products respectively, leaving ITC's Yippee as currently the only major brand available in the category.

Source: NDTV / Economic Times