Now, Nestle’s pasta sample found to have high lead content

Nestle India's troubles seem not ending. After Maggi noodles, it is now Nestle's pasta which has been found to contain lead beyond permissible limit. Tests conducted at the National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow found samples of Nestle's macroni pasta to contain lead much more than the permissible limit.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the sample of Nestle pasta was sent to the National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow, which failed the test.

The macroni pasta sample collected from Nestle distributor Sriji Traders in UP on 10 June were sent to the government laboratory, says the report.

Test reports received on 2 September showed the samples contained lead as much as 6 parts per million (ppm) against the permissible limit of 2.5 ppm.

''The sample of macroni pasta was taken from Mau and sent to National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow, in which lead was found to be much more that the permissible limit,'' reports quoting Arvind Yadav, designated officer at Food and Drug Administration Mau, was reported as saying.

''According to report received on September 2, they failed the tests,'' the officer said.

''The standard limit is 2.5 ppm (parts per million) while it has been found to be 6 ppm. The letter informing the Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address has come back here undelivered,'' Yadav said.

''On the basis of the report, this food product now comes under the 'unsafe food category','' he said, adding, ''The report has been sent to the FDA commissioner (Lucknow) on October 12 for sanction to lodge a case and in case it is received, it will be filed in the court of the CJM here,''

The letter informing the Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address has reportedly returned undelivered. 

''They (Nestle) were sent a letter over a month ago intimating them about the results. They had a month's time to appeal against the test but the letter sent by the FDA was not received by the company and was returned here,'' Yadav said.

Nesstle rejected the report saying it was unaware of any such test. The company also said its products are safe for consumption and that it was not aware of any test done on pasta brands by the Uttar Pradesh lab.