New Delhi: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) said it has stopped manufacturing and sale of the Chinese range of its Knorr instant noodles.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday, HUL said its application submitted to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for product approval of Knorr Chinese range of instant noodles remains pending. HUL had submitted the application in February.
“As a responsible manufacturer and to reassure consumers, HUL has last week conducted additional testing of its noodles range of products from external Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved laboratory. All these tests show that the Chinese noodles range of products are safe for consumption and continue to meet all regulatory norms,” HUL said in the statement.
However, HUL withdraws Knorr noodles with an assurance saying that all food products of HUL, including its Chinese range of instant noodles, abide by the highest quality standards and are safe for consumption. HUL follows a strict quality management system and regularly monitors products for compliance to regulations, it said.
According to the HUL statement, all its food products are regularly tested at FSSAI approved laboratories in addition to complying with strict internal quality standards. All suppliers are periodically audited by external accredited auditing agencies.
Discontinuance of manufacturing and sale of the Knorr Chinese instant noodles is not on account of any safety or quality concerns, it said.
“The Chinese instant noodle range uses ingredients which are permitted under the FSS Regulation, 2011/Codex and safety of these ingredients is well established. Details of the same have been shared with FSSAI as part of the product approval application. HUL continues to engage with FSSAI to secure the approval of this range so as to make these products available at the earliest for its consumers,” HUL said in the statement.
HUL withdraws Knorr noodles Chinese range of Knorr instant noodles that are available in two flavours of Hot & Spicy and Schezwan in the market.
Last week, FSSAI had banned nine variants of Maggi noodles terming them “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption after finding high levels of lead and presence of taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG).
