‘Ban ‘Maggi’ till proved safe for human use’
Demanding ban on sale of ‘Maggi’ in school and hospital canteens, an RTI activist has appealed to Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to halt the sale of the product till it was declared safe for consumption after proper testing in the laboratory.
In his petition (Ref No. 54842) to the Chief Minister through Grievance Cell, the RTI activist, Raman Sharma has submitted: “I am worried about the presence of MSG, monosodium glumate and lead in ‘Maggi’, a sort of noodles that are quite famous in the country and obviously in J&K also.”
In addition, the activist also highlighted ‘casual’ approach of the State Food authorities in dealing with the issue. “This product (Maggi) is available in all hotels, restaurants, canteens of educational institutions in Jammu, Kashmir and even parts of Ladakh but till date we have not heard that the authorities of J&K Drug and Food Control organization have taken samples from anywhere to confirm whether it is safe to consume, especially by minor children,” Sharma has said.
The activist has demanded that J&K Drug and Food Control organization be directed to immediately pick samples randomly and get them tested from reputed laboratories to confirm the presence of MSG, monosodium glumate and lead in the product.
“Till final result and expert report of the samples confirm it safe for consumption, the product must be banned in hotels, restaurants, school, college and hospital canteens,” Sharma has sought. The activist has also urged that if the official results confirmed the product fit for human consumption, the ban be revoked immediately so that people associated with its sales and marketing do not get affected.
