Nestle claims Maggi is safe, product withdrawn off shelves to allay consumer fears

After days of uncertainty and plummeting stocks, Nestle finally broke its silence on Friday and said Maggi was safe but still it withdrew the two-minute noodles from the markets citing that customers' faith was shaken.

Nestle's global CEO Paul Bulcke said that they wanted Maggi noodles back on shelves as soon as possible, adding that they would look into the safety concerns, dismissing that they added MSG in the popular-snack.

On the concerns of presence of lead beyond permissible limits, Bulcke said that the lead came from natural resources, like water, air, through which Maggi was made in India.

Regarding presence of MSG, the global CEO said they never added Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in Maggi and it was through environment and contact of other products, the glutamate was seeping in the packages.

Nestle said in a statement that recent developments and unfounded concerns about the product led to an environment of confusion for the consumer.

Although he said that according to tests conducted by them, the product was safe, he did not deny for any third party testing.

“We are conducting independent third party tests on of Maggi noodles. We are confident that Maggi noodles will be back as soon as possible," he said.

Nestle is withdrawing Maggi from sale in India citing "an environment of confusion for consumers". A food scare was also triggered over a domestic regulator's report that some packs of the popular snack contained excess lead.

Over six states have banned Maggi noodles, Tamil Nadu becoming the first state.

(Image: Indiatimes)