New Delhi: Even though Nestle India continues Shootout its worst crisis ever in its nearly three-decade history of selling Maggi noodles in the country, the most important question now doing the rounds, including social media is how could a multinational company (MNC) to conduct the business for so long ... selling a product with potential health risks to millions of consumers?
The presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead above the permissible limits Maggi samples cannot be a phenomenon overnight. In addition, there could be many more products from other multinational companies, so it could potentially harm the health of indigenous people.
The presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead above the permissible limits Maggi samples cannot be a phenomenon overnight. In addition, there could be many more products from other multinational companies, so it could potentially harm the health of indigenous people.
Who has allowed multinationals to sell these products "inferior" all these years? Can the government be absolved of their responsibility and accountability to enable domestic and foreign food manufacturing companies to have a free run?
"Both the Central and state governments usually avoid taking strict measures against multinationals and large Indian manufacturers, despite being aware of violations. However, this time the Delhi government has been quick to take action Maggi issue, "a senior retired official of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Firstpost said on condition of anonymity.
Ashim Sanyal, COO of voluntary action group Consumer Voice, said: "Who knows what people have been using for the past 20 years there laxity by both state governments and the central regulatory body FSSAI? Both they never bothered to exercise their powers to have a regular check of foodstuffs, whether Maggi or any other item, ready for consumption all these years. "
Safety Authority and Food Standards of India (FSSAI) was established as an independent statutory authority under the Law of Food Safety Standards and 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders that have been handled so far related issues with food in various ministries and government departments. The agency has been created to the rules for food items and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The 2006 Act is to establish a single point of reference for all matters relating to safety and food standards.
"If so, why FSSAI taking so long to act despite controversy erupted Maggi some time?" Sanyal questioned.
The gray areas
Political experts and consumer activists have identified several gray areas that help operators to supply food products to consumer’s lower quality and yet remain "untouched". It is ultimately the consumer who receives the wrong end of the stick.
- Central controller does not perform the inspections and regular product testing to ensure that only appropriate quality product is sold in the market.
- Not the laxity on the part of food security departments of state governments also.
- There is a lack of adequate coordination between the Centre and states, since the latter do not report to the Centre in this regard.
- Except for a few accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), several laboratories testing laboratories in the United not conform to the rules. The equipment used by these laboratories are often not updated and not calibrated correctly. This leads to variation in the results.
- Despite having immense power, commissioner’s official food and safety in the states do not exercise on a regular basis to keep a check on all consumer-ready products on the shelves.
- Often, field inspectors cannot get permission from higher authorities to carry out a raid and check products.
- The lack of adequate training facilities inspection personnel, and modernization.
- Unlike abroad, the application of the law and regulations is weak in India. Therefore, it is worth it.
- Both regulatory departments in Central and food security in the states suffering from personal crisis. State drives lack funds.
- Corruption is another concern.
- An action plan five chalk out jointly by the Centre and states in 2009-10 has not yet been implemented.
Bejon Kumar Misra, an international expert consumer policy, said: "First, the industries have a strong influence on decision-makers and it is easy for them to get through Second, instead of sitting together and. find a solution, there is a blame game between the Centre and states. Even when you have made any plan, which finally cannot get implemented on the ground. No one wants to bell the cat. "
Unlike India, legal procedures and sanctions regime are as stringent abroad that no one dares to violate them. The recall system low quality products in India is voluntary and not mandatory as in other countries.
Sanyal added: "The Supreme Court had indicated the issue of sentence in the case of contaminated milk not taken any legal action and one goes by paying a small fine there is a need to evolve according laws... With the times. Just we got to hear sub-standard products being recalled by a company. "
"Some years ago, a Jamshedpur court had indicted Nestle, after MSG was found in the Maggi noodles. But what after that happened no one knows. This is the business of the state of sad in our system and no one has fear of the law. But it is for the first time since the Consumer Protection Act 1986 came into existence, the government has registered a case against the Maggi noodles with Consumer Complaints of the National Commission for redress, claiming compensation for consumers, "Misra said.
"Both the Central and state governments usually avoid taking strict measures against multinationals and large Indian manufacturers, despite being aware of violations. However, this time the Delhi government has been quick to take action Maggi issue, "a senior retired official of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Firstpost said on condition of anonymity.
Ashim Sanyal, COO of voluntary action group Consumer Voice, said: "Who knows what people have been using for the past 20 years there laxity by both state governments and the central regulatory body FSSAI? Both they never bothered to exercise their powers to have a regular check of foodstuffs, whether Maggi or any other item, ready for consumption all these years. "
Safety Authority and Food Standards of India (FSSAI) was established as an independent statutory authority under the Law of Food Safety Standards and 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders that have been handled so far related issues with food in various ministries and government departments. The agency has been created to the rules for food items and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The 2006 Act is to establish a single point of reference for all matters relating to safety and food standards.
"If so, why FSSAI taking so long to act despite controversy erupted Maggi some time?" Sanyal questioned.
The gray areas
Political experts and consumer activists have identified several gray areas that help operators to supply food products to consumer’s lower quality and yet remain "untouched". It is ultimately the consumer who receives the wrong end of the stick.
- Central controller does not perform the inspections and regular product testing to ensure that only appropriate quality product is sold in the market.
- Not the laxity on the part of food security departments of state governments also.
- There is a lack of adequate coordination between the Centre and states, since the latter do not report to the Centre in this regard.
- Except for a few accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), several laboratories testing laboratories in the United not conform to the rules. The equipment used by these laboratories are often not updated and not calibrated correctly. This leads to variation in the results.
- Despite having immense power, commissioner’s official food and safety in the states do not exercise on a regular basis to keep a check on all consumer-ready products on the shelves.
- Often, field inspectors cannot get permission from higher authorities to carry out a raid and check products.
- The lack of adequate training facilities inspection personnel, and modernization.
- Unlike abroad, the application of the law and regulations is weak in India. Therefore, it is worth it.
- Both regulatory departments in Central and food security in the states suffering from personal crisis. State drives lack funds.
- Corruption is another concern.
- An action plan five chalk out jointly by the Centre and states in 2009-10 has not yet been implemented.
Bejon Kumar Misra, an international expert consumer policy, said: "First, the industries have a strong influence on decision-makers and it is easy for them to get through Second, instead of sitting together and. find a solution, there is a blame game between the Centre and states. Even when you have made any plan, which finally cannot get implemented on the ground. No one wants to bell the cat. "
Unlike India, legal procedures and sanctions regime are as stringent abroad that no one dares to violate them. The recall system low quality products in India is voluntary and not mandatory as in other countries.
Sanyal added: "The Supreme Court had indicated the issue of sentence in the case of contaminated milk not taken any legal action and one goes by paying a small fine there is a need to evolve according laws... With the times. Just we got to hear sub-standard products being recalled by a company. "
"Some years ago, a Jamshedpur court had indicted Nestle, after MSG was found in the Maggi noodles. But what after that happened no one knows. This is the business of the state of sad in our system and no one has fear of the law. But it is for the first time since the Consumer Protection Act 1986 came into existence, the government has registered a case against the Maggi noodles with Consumer Complaints of the National Commission for redress, claiming compensation for consumers, "Misra said.
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