ZURICH: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is testing samples of a Nestle instant noodle brand that was recalled from stores across India last week, a spokeswoman for the Swiss food group said on Thursday.

Nestle, the world’s largest food company, is seeking to defend its reputation in India after it pulled Maggi instant noodles from stores following reports by regulators that some packets contained excess lead.

A spokeswoman for the Swiss-based company said the United States’ FDA was now also looking into the issue. “We have been made aware that the FDA has taken samples of Maggi noodles manufactured in India from third-party importers’ containers for testing, and we have asked the importers to advise us of the outcome of the FDA tests,” the spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

Nestle challenges India ban

Meanwhile, the company said on Thursday it is challenging a ban imposed by India.

Nestle said it had approached the high court in Mumbai seeking a judicial review of a June 5 order from the government’s food safety regulator banning the product.

“Nestle India Limited has today approached the Hon’ble Bombay High Court raising issues of interpretation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2011,” said a statement posted on the company’s website.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2015

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