Sri Lanka to stop importing noodles from India

June 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has decided to stop importing noodles from India, Minister of Industry and Commerce said.

“We have already told the Customs not to accept any consignments of noodles from India,” Rishad Bathiudeen, Industry and Commerce Minister, said in Colombo Wednesday. “This is because we received some reports that there are some noodles coming here,” Sri Lanka’s Industrial Technical Institute (ITI) is presently in the process of testing Maggi Noodles, and other varieties of noodles to determine their lead content. Bathiudeen says that the analysis is being done and a report is expected by next week.

Health Services Director General Palitha Mahipala earlier directed that samples of Maggi and other noodles will be tested by the Institute in this regard. The directive comes in the wake of the multinational global food giant in India deciding to take the Maggi brand of noodles temporarily off the shelves countrywide, alleging it contain high levels of lead and MSG making it unsafe for human consumption. Meanwhile, Nestle Lanka, a unit of a Swiss-based food group told LBO that they welcomed the move by the government to test their popular brand Maggi for its lead content.

“We welcome this move by the government to test the product and it will act as an assurance to us,” Bandula Egodage, Corporate Spokesperson, Nestle Lanka said. “MAGGI Noodles is locally produced at our factory in Pannala, Kurunegala, maintaining all the food laws and regulations applicable for Sri Lanka.”