Bahrain Bans Import and Sale of Nestle’s Maggi Noodles Manufactured In India

The ministry has ordered vigilance at the country's ports to ensure that no more of the Indian-manufactured noodles enter Bahrain.

Bahrain has imposed a ban on Nestle’s Maggi noodles manufactured in India.

The move follows a health ministry-ordered seizure of hundreds of packets of Maggi noodles, which reportedly found their way on to shop shelves in Bahrain through local traders.

Switch Over from Noodles to Oats for a Slimmer Waist!
A study published in the Nutritional Journal studied if introduction of oatmeal in the diet could reduce cholesterol levels in a Chinese population.

Maggi noodles are at the center of a health scare in India after laboratory tests revealed they contained lead at levels far higher than the legal maximum.

Last week, health officials cleared the noodle brand for sale in Bahrain on the basis that most Maggi products available here are made in Malaysia.

Samples taken from the market and tested in the laboratory had also come back negative for high levels of lead.

The Maggi Way of Life: The Story of India's Favorite Two Minute Noodles
Recently Maggi grabbed headlines after it courted controversy over charges of excessive lead in its noodles, which soon led to a country-wide ban on the snack.

The ministry has now ordered heightened vigilance at the country’s ports to ensure that no more of the Indian-manufactured noodles enter Bahrain, said, Maryam Al Jalahma, primary care and public health assistant under-secretary.

"Action was immediately taken by health inspectors to withdraw Indian-origin Maggi noodles from shops. Our move comes after health authorities in India announced a ban on the noodles, since laboratory tests showed that the noodles contained lead at levels far higher than the legal maximum."

With Consumers Wary, Maggi Noodles Off Store Shelves in Several Parts of India
Amid growing health concerns, the sale of Maggi instant noodles has taken a hit with grocery shops and chains like Big Bazaar removing it from their shelves.

"As a precaution, samples of Maggi noodles manufactured in Malaysia, the main source for Bahrain market, were subjected to laboratory analysis. Results revealed the safety of such products for human consumption," she added.

Nestle Middle East has issued a statement to stress the safety of its products. "All our Maggi products in the Middle East are safe and compliant with the highest quality standards," said Lynn Al Khatib, Media relations manage, Nestle Middle East.

Samples of Maggi Noodles Collected Randomly from Across Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh authorities have also collected samples of Maggi instant noodles from across the state on June 3, 2015, and sent them to a lab for testing.

"Food safety is Nestle’s number one priority. We do more food testing than any other entity in the world and have many stringent controls to guarantee safety, starting from the raw materials we use, throughout processing to packaging," the manager added.

Source-IANS