Durban - Nestlé South Africa has no plans to withdraw its Maggi 2-Minute noodle range after similar products were withdrawn from supermarket shelves in several states in India.
The Associated Press reported earlier this week that at least 10 Indian states had ordered the withdrawal of the Maggi noodles from shops, or ordered further investigations, following tests that showed the snack contained lead above permissible levels.
However, Nestlé SA said the Maggie 2-minute noodles sold in this country were safe.
Nestlé SA’s raw materials were purchased only from approved suppliers and were tested extensively before use. The company said the noodles were produced in their Babelegi factory in Gauteng.
“The finished product is released only once we have confirmed compliance to a strict array of quality and food safety criteria… Maggi 2-minute noodles are safe to consume and are 100% compliant with South African regulations.
“Lead occurs naturally in the environment and in soil, hence we monitor the levels of lead in raw materials and finished products through testing by accredited laboratories and these tests have consistently shown levels of lead… to be well within permissible limits,” the statement said.
The Mercury