Now excess lead found in Yippee noodles, UP food regulator to file case

In a new revelation, the Uttar Pradesh Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has found lead in the Yippee noodles 'far in excess of the permissible limits'.

The noodles are manufactured by a local giant ITC ltd. The FDA is planning to file a case against the company.

"The laboratory report for these samples, which were received here yesterday, indicated that the lead content which should have been below 1 ppm was found to be 1.057 ppm", Head of Department FDA, Aligarh Division, Chandan Pandey told PTI.

On 21 June, FDA authorities had seized 8 samples of different food products from a local mall including the sample of Yippee noodles. These samples were sent to the state laboratory at Lucknow and Meerut for testing, Mr. Pandey added.

Stating that excessive lead content can cause serious harm, particularly to children, he said that a report has been sent to the FDA Chief Commissioner for permission before filing an official case.

The process is expected to take a few weeks, he added.

Incidentally, the troubles for Nestle India over 'excess' lead content in its Maggi noodles had also begun in UP first, while food regulators in other parts of the country and the central body FSSAI also later passed orders against the company.

The Bombay High Court, however, recently quashed the ban on Maggi noodles and had asked the government and the company to get the tests conducted again.

-PTI