DHAKA: A court in India has lifted a government ban on Nestle’s popular Maggi noodles, but ordered fresh tests before the product can go back on sale.
Nestle had challenged the ban ordered by the country’s food safety regulator in June after some tests found lead levels beyond statutory limits.
The Swiss food multinational has always said its products are safe.
Thursday’s ruling came a day after India separately sued Nestle for $100m over ‘unfair trade practices’, reports the BBC.
The complaint against Nestle is that it caused damage to consumers through misleading advertisements related to its Maggi noodles product.
On Thursday, the Bombay High Court called June’s ban on the popular noodles ‘arbitrary’ and said it violated the ‘principles of natural justice’.
‘We have examined the evidence in great detail. Since the petitioner Nestle has already agreed not to make and sell Maggi until the food authorities are satisfied, we see no reason to allow any relief to food authorities,’ Justice Vidyasagar Kanade was quoted as saying by the media.
BDST: 2035 HRS, AUG 13, 2015
RR