Maggi: Taste Bhi, Health Bhi? High Levels of MSG & Lead Found In Samples

The country’s favourite 2-minute snack might soon be banned. The Lucknow Food Safety and Drug Administration has found Maggi to contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead in amounts that exceed the permissible limit. Theyhave written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) asking to cancel the licence for Maggi.

A few samples of Maggi were collected in Uttar Pradesh and tested for permissible ingredients at Kolkata’s referral laboratory. Maggi was found to contain 17 parts per million of lead, enormously crossing the permissible limit of mere 0.01 parts per million of lead. The excess of MSG can cause long-term effects on nervous system. Short term side effects of MSG and Lead include nausea, headaches, burning sensation of the mouth and neck and upset stomach.

Nestle, the manufacturer of the noodle snack, denied the allegations, and said they don’t add MSG to the product at all.