Nestle India Maggi Noodles Found to Have 'Dangerous' Levels of Lead & MSG, State FDA Orders Recall

According to the state's Food Safety and Drug Administration, a batch of Maggi noodles in India contains high levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Maggi's two-minute instant noodles, a popular food in India, were tested in a laboratory. FDA officials from Uttar Pradesh said that the packets they tested contained harmful chemicals.

"Maggi instant noodles contained dangerous amount of lead and MSG. We had to immediately issue orders against the company," D.G. Srivastava, FDA deputy inspector general in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, told Reuters.

Nestle India was asked to recall the batch containing around 200,000 packs whith the expiry date of Nov 2014. However, the company contested the order.

"Nestlé India's current practice is to collect stock that is near 'Best Before date' from distributors/retailers so we are confident that these packs are no longer in the market," the company said in a statement released on May 21.

"The company does not agree with the order and is filing the requisite representations with the authorities. In the meantime it is important to note that there are no other orders to recall MAGGI Noodle products in the market," the statement continued.

Nestle India, a branch of the original Nestle in Switzerland, also said they followed safety and quality control guidelines in making the noodles.

"People can be confident that MAGGI Noodle products are safe to eat," the company noted in the statement.

"We do not add MSG to our MAGGI Noodles sold in India and this is stated on the concerned product," the company said, adding that they use glutamate from foods that naturally contain the ingredient. As for the lead levels in the noodles, they are said to be "within permissible limits."

Nestle India has reported that their products are still on an ongoing investigation from the local authorities. They have submitted their product samples to an independent accredited laboratory and will share the findings to the heads of the investigation.

According to the World Health Organization, lead consumption can have serious health effects on children. Exposure to high levels of lead can lead to coma, convulsions and even death.

Additionally, for those who survive lead poisoning, children may acquire mental retardation and behavioral problems. Lower levels can still bring harm such as lower the IQ, diminish attention span, increase antisocial behavior, cause anemia and hypertension and even damage the reproductive organs.

MSG or monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring acid. It is a flavor-enhancing ingredient added to foods, according to Health Canada. Although there is no regulatory limit to MSG, a small amount of it should only be used in enhancing flavor.